Dark Matters at Purdue Unravelling a Cosmic Secret
Most of the matter in the Universe is made of an entirely unknown substance called Dark Matter. While its existence has been established by versatile cosmological and astrophysical observations, the actual nature of Dark Matter is still a mystery. We are working on experiments to detect Dark Matter particles in order to unravel this cosmic secret.
Neutrinos are elusive messengers from the core of our Sun and from Galactic supernova explosions. Our experiments are sensitive to their feeble interactions and allow us to study how our Sun produces its energy, and how a dying star explodes.
Experiments Machines to Reveal Hidden Worlds
XENON
XENON is the world's largest and most sensitive detector for Dark Matter particles with masses comparable to an atom or heavier. Operated by an international collaboration, it is located at the Gran Sasso underground laboratory in Italy.
LBECA
The LBECA collaboration develops a dedicated liquid xenon detector to search for Dark Matter particles with masses lighter than a proton. We work on novel ideas and technologies to realize this detector on an rapid time scale.
Generation-3
A future generation-3 liquid xenon detector such as DARWIN will be able to probe Dark Matter to unprecedented sensitivities, measure solar and atmospheric neutrinos, and search for neutrinoless double-beta decay.
Windchime
We are developing a novel detector based on optomechanical sensing to probe Dark Matter at the Planck Mass. A large array of such sensors, read out using advanced quantum sensing protocols, will be sensitive down to the guaranteed gravitational couplings.
NaI (Tl)
Our modulation experiment uses multiple NaI(Tl)-scintillator setups across four countries and three continents. The goal is to monitor radioactive decays with unprecedented accuracy in order to measure half-lives and search for astrophysical influences.
The Purdue Group Meet the people behind this research
Group Members
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General Public
We will be happy to discuss our science with you, simply send us your question or comments. Or book us for a presentation at your event!
Undergraduates
Undergraduate research theses are continuously available. Possibilities range from data analysis of the Dark Matter search data to hands-on experiments in the lab.
Graduates
Please inquire for available graduate theses at the interface of astrophysics, particle physics, and the limits of our understanding.