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New Detector Unveils Secrets of Light Dark Matter

9/11/2025

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Story summary
  • Researchers at the University of Zurich created a superconducting nanowire single-photon detector (SNSPD) to investigate dark matter particles under one mega electron volt (MeV).
  • Dark matter constitutes about 80% of the universe's mass, yet its nature is still unclear.
  • Previous studies overlooked lighter particles, but the SNSPD can detect particles one-tenth the mass of an electron.
  • This technology enables the observation of seasonal directional changes in dark matter.
  • Future enhancements aim to detect even smaller mass signals, with plans for underground deployment to reduce radiation interference.