Using the atomic clock to help find evidence of dark matter

A joint team of physicists from the University of Sussex and the National Physical Laboratory, both in the UK, has developed tests to identify ultra-light dark matter particles. In their paper published in open-access New Journal of Physicsthe team explains how they are trying to use the high precision of atomic clocks to detect ultra-light dark matter “kicks” that can lead to time changes and, in doing so, will show evidence of dark matter.

Currently, dark matter has not been proven to exist – instead it is more of a placeholder created to explain observations of deviations from the Standard Model of physics – such as certain effects of gravity in galaxies. Since its development as a theory back in the early 1930s, physicists around the world have been developing theories and experiments to prove its existence.

Sadly, despite much time and effort, no such evidence has been found. In this new effort, the UK team is working on a new way to add credibility to dark matter theories — using atomic clocks to detect dark matter particles.

Atomic clocks achieve their precision by exploiting the precision inherent in atomic resonance—atoms oscillate between energy fields in a very precise manner. The researchers in this new study hope to use such precision to identify dark matter particles, which, as their name suggests, are the tiny particles that make up dark matter.

The use of atomic clocks to identify them revolves around the idea that atomic clocks may be slightly off, if, as the theory suggests, very dark matter particles are able to interact very weakly with the normal-like atoms they are used for. as the basis of the atomic clock. And if that small change in the oscillation frequency of a given atom were to occur, the research team is confident that it can be observed, and perhaps measured. If this could be achieved, scientists would have evidence of dark matter. The next step will be for a group of physicists to build a device capable of testing their new ideas.