Talk by Anthony Brady Wed Feb 2nd 2022

 

Speaker:   Anthony Brady

Place: The Cloud

Date: Wednesday Feb 2nd

Time: 11am Central.

Zoom Link

https://lsu.zoom.us/j/6541089114

Title:   Entangled sensor-networks for dark-matter searches

Abstract: 

One of the most ambitious endeavors in human history is determining the material make-up of the cosmos. However, along this journey to discover the constituents of the universe, modern physics has led us to two mysterious entities which dominate cosmic structure: dark energy and dark matter. Dark matter (DM), for instance, comprises the majority of mass in galaxies and plays a crucial role in galaxy formation--- yet we have absolutely no idea what it is made of. It is currently believed that DM constituents lie outside of the standard model of particle physics, due to their (very) weak coupling to all known forms of normal matter, radiation etc., and a fervorous hunt for such exotic DM-particles has ensued over the last half-century. For example, terrestrial experiments with microwave cavities search for (light, bosonic) DM particles via their very weak coupling to the electromagnetic field, in which case a DM particle can convert to a cavity photon and the excess power can be read out. Unfortunately, this DM signal is extremely feeble, and thus delicate care, precise instrumentation, and exhaustively long experimental-runs are required to search for these illusive DM particles. Fortunately, quantum technologies can substantially help to relieve some of the experimental strain. In this talk, I will discuss how quantum squeezing can accelerate the search for DM particles (as was recently shown in experiment). I will further discuss how an entangled sensor-network--- consisting of many, entangled microwave cavities--- can further enhance the search for DM. This provides a beautiful example of the potential impact that near-term quantum technologies can have on fundamental physics and, on a more intimate level, our journey to understand the cosmos.