1 week Ago By Pragya Singha Roy
Northwestern University physicists have developed a new atom interferometer that amplifies signals by 1,000 times, enabling unprecedented sensitivity to subtle forces. This breakthrough could pave the way for detecting elusive phenomena like dark matter and gravitational waves. New Delhi: A team of physicists at Northwestern University has produced a device that can boost weak signals a thousandfold and could thus help in the hunt for dark matter and gravitational waves.
Called an atom interferometer, this state-of-the-art device enables the control of atoms with light and the detection of forces that are otherwise almost impossible to measure. In contrast to previous models, the new device corrects for flaws in light, which is 50 times more improved than the previous device. The largest part of all the matter in the universe, 85 percent, is called dark matter and is still one of the most well-guarded secrets in the field of physics.
Although its existence is almost unconditional, it is incredibly elusive in its relationships with ordinary matter, which is why contemporary devices cannot pick up on them. “Dark matter is an embarrassing problem,” said Timothy L. Kovachy, the physicist who led the work.
“This is ordinary matter, and we know a lot about it; however, the majority of the universe remains unknown.” In doing so, this breakthrough not only allows researchers to develop high-sensitivity detectors to investigate previously unmeasurable signals of ultra-weak forces from dark matter and dark energy and other unknown phenomena. How Atom Interferometers Work Atom interferometers work in the basis of quantum mechanics, where particles are put in two or more states at the same time.
In these devices, lasers divide a wave-like atom into two separate waves that travel different paths. When these waves merge, they form an interference pattern—a signature of sorts of forces influencing the atoms. This new interferometer addresses the difficulties associated with light-induced defects.
For instance, even a single photon can turn an atom slightly off course, and compounded errors make measurements unreliable after ten laser pulses. The use of a machine learning approach by the Northwestern team allowed them to correct errors of waveform and synchronise the laser pulses for optimal outcomes. High Sensitivity: signal amplification up to 1000 times Having mimicked the environment, the researchers subjected their innovations to laboratory tests after that.
The results verified that their device was capable of boosting the signals by 1,000 times, a giant leap in terms of sensitivity. It is possible that such capabilities could open up entirely new ways of trying to find dark matter and other mysterious phenomena in the universe, in frequencies that have not been accessible before. “We know that atom interferometers are quite sensitive to small oscillations,” Kovachy added.
“With our improvements, we are now expanding the boundaries of detection to further explore the unknown universe.” This advancement not only improves the search for dark matter but also lays down a platform for other improvements of quantum measurement devices. Click for more latest Science news .
Also get top headlines and latest news from India and around the world at News9. Pragya is an accomplished journalist known for in-depth reporting and a keen eye for detail. Delivers insightful and well-researched content that informs and engages readers.
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