Axions are a type of theoretical particle very first proposed in the 1970s. They werent proposed to solve dark matter, however rather to resolve certain elements of the theory of quantum chromodynamics, which describes the strong nuclear force. According to the theories, would be low mass, chargeless particles that dont communicate highly with light. Sounds a bit like dark matter, does not it?
Picture of a magnetic material revealing domain regions. Credit: Wikipedia user Gorchy
If axions do make up dark matter, then one of the more subtle results is that their quantum field would have topological flaws. Essentially, the axions would tend to cluster into oriented regions on scales smaller than a galaxy, but bigger than Earth.
If a dark matter axion were to interact with the atoms, it would trigger the magnetic field of the atoms to shift somewhat, which the magnetometer might discover. This kind of little perturbation occurs arbitrarily all the time with atoms, however since an axion field domain is bigger than Earth, axions at every lab ought to tweak atoms in the very same way. Whats more, if Earth occurred to pass from one axion domain to another, the axion perturbation ought to move in the very same way all across the globe.
Sketch of the worldwide GNOME network. Credit: Hector Masia Roig
The team collected a month of continuous data and ran statistical correlations between laboratories. What they found was a wash. The atomic perturbations were indistinguishable from random noise. That does not suggest the experiment was a failure. The experiment puts particular constraints on the possible mass of axions. Any theory proposing axion dark matter cant have axion particles in this variety. The group is moving forward with more delicate studies that will either discover axions or further constrain them.
At this point, the search for dark matter appears to duplicate the very same tale. Look for a particular type of dark matter particle and fail to discover them.
Referral: S. Afach et al. “Search for topological flaw dark matter with a global network of optical magnetometers.” Nature Physics 17.7 (2021 ): 1396-1401.
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Axions are a popular prospect in the search for dark matter. There have actually been previous searches for these hypothetical particles, all of which have created absolutely nothing. But recently the results of a brand-new look for dark matter axions have actually been published … and has actually likewise found absolutely nothing. Still, the study is fascinating since of the nature and scale of the search.
Axions are a popular candidate in the search for dark matter. Just recently the outcomes of a brand-new search for dark matter axions have been released … and has actually likewise discovered absolutely nothing. If a dark matter axion were to communicate with the atoms, it would cause the magnetic field of the atoms to shift slightly, which the magnetometer could identify. Whats more, if Earth occurred to pass from one axion domain to another, the axion perturbation need to shift in the same way all across the globe.
Any theory proposing axion dark matter cant have axion particles in this variety.
