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Astrophysicists have developed a new atom interferometer that can amplify faint cosmic signals by a factor of 1000. This makes it 50 times more sensitive than previous models. The technology could be the key to detecting dark matter, dark energy and gravitational waves, which remain invisible to current research methods., reports SciTechDaily.
Dark matter, which makes up 85 percent of the mass of the universe, remains a mystery to science. A new device created by physicists at Northwestern University uses laser pulses to manipulate atoms, allowing for extremely precise measurements of even the weakest forces. Unlike previous interferometers, this model self-corrects for errors caused by optical imperfections.
The device works on the principle of quantum superposition, a phenomenon in which a particle can be in multiple states at the same time. Lasers split atoms into two waves that travel different paths and then recombine, creating a unique interference pattern. Analysis of this pattern reveals the invisible forces acting on the atoms.
A cloud of cold, trapped strontium atoms hangs inside an atom interferometer. Invented in 1991, atom interferometers take advantage of superposition, a fundamental principle of quantum mechanics in which a particle can exist in multiple states at once. Photo credit: Northwestern University
One of the main problems with previous models was optical defects, which led to the accumulation of errors after 10 laser pulses. The new technology solves this problem using machine learning algorithms that optimize the pulse sequence and automatically correct errors. In laboratory experiments, the researchers were able to increase the number of pulses to 500, which significantly increases the accuracy of the measurements.
The scientific breakthrough opens up new possibilities for studying fundamental physical phenomena. Thanks to a significant increase in the sensitivity of interferometers, scientists hope to find traces of dark matter and other invisible aspects of the universe, which could fundamentally change current research ideas about the nature of reality.
Astrophysicists have developed a new atom interferometer that can amplify faint cosmic signals by a factor of 1000. This makes it 50 times more sensitive than previous models. The technology could be the key to detecting dark matter, dark energy and gravitational waves, which remain invisible to current research methods., reports SciTechDaily.
Dark matter, which makes up 85 percent of the mass of the universe, remains a mystery to science. A new device created by physicists at Northwestern University uses laser pulses to manipulate atoms, allowing for extremely precise measurements of even the weakest forces. Unlike previous interferometers, this model self-corrects for errors caused by optical imperfections.
The device works on the principle of quantum superposition, a phenomenon in which a particle can be in multiple states at the same time. Lasers split atoms into two waves that travel different paths and then recombine, creating a unique interference pattern. Analysis of this pattern reveals the invisible forces acting on the atoms.
A cloud of cold, trapped strontium atoms hangs inside an atom interferometer. Invented in 1991, atom interferometers take advantage of superposition, a fundamental principle of quantum mechanics in which a particle can exist in multiple states at once. Photo credit: Northwestern University
One of the main problems with previous models was optical defects, which led to the accumulation of errors after 10 laser pulses. The new technology solves this problem using machine learning algorithms that optimize the pulse sequence and automatically correct errors. In laboratory experiments, the researchers were able to increase the number of pulses to 500, which significantly increases the accuracy of the measurements.
The scientific breakthrough opens up new possibilities for studying fundamental physical phenomena. Thanks to a significant increase in the sensitivity of interferometers, scientists hope to find traces of dark matter and other invisible aspects of the universe, which could fundamentally change current research ideas about the nature of reality.
