A team of researchers from Harvard University and King’s College London has made a groundbreaking discovery that brings the universe one step closer to understanding the mysterious realm of dark matter. They successfully created an imitation of the hypothetical axion particle, a long-sought component believed to be crucial for dark matter.
The breakthrough came when Jian-Xiang Qiu and Suyang Xu, along with their team, formed axion-like quasiparticles using manganese bismuth telluride. This material exhibits a unique property where electric and magnetic fields are intricately linked. By applying an electric field to the material, the scientists induced magnetization, leading to the formation of axion quasiparticles.
The creation of these quasiparticles is significant because they mirror the behavior of true axion particles in theory. Axions can transform into photons when interacting with strong magnetic fields. The researchers used lasers to generate a magnon and then probed the material’s magnetization, uncovering the distinctive oscillation characteristic of axions.
This direct observation provides robust evidence for the existence of axion quasiparticles and holds potential as a detector for real axion particles. By amplifying the photon signal, scientists can now uncover scattered axion particles throughout the universe. This discovery strengthens the case for dark matter’s existence and opens new avenues for research, potentially leading to transformative discoveries.
The successful creation of axion quasiparticles marks a significant milestone in particle physics and dark matter research, providing a new experimental platform for investigating axion behavior and properties. It may also inspire the development of new technologies and instruments designed to detect axions in nature, revolutionizing our understanding of dark matter’s influence on the universe’s structure and evolution.
Source: https://www.sustainability-times.com/in-depth/scientists-imitate-hypothetical-dark-matter-axion-for-the-first-time-groundbreaking-discovery-stuns-physics-world-and-redefines-cosmic-mysteries