In our quest to comprehend the universe, our knowledge represents just a tiny fraction of the full reality.
Dark matter and dark energy constitute roughly 95% of the universe, leaving a mere 5% as “ordinary matter” that we can directly observe. Dr. Rupak Mahapatra, an experimental particle physicist at Texas A&M University, develops cutting-edge semiconductor detectors equipped with cryogenic quantum sensors. His work supports experiments around the globe, pushing the limits of our knowledge in the quest to understand this profound cosmic mystery.
Mahapatra compares our grasp of the universe to an old parable: “It’s like trying to describe an elephant by only touching its tail. We sense something immense and intricate, yet we are only experiencing a tiny fragment of it.”
What Exactly are Dark Matter and Dark Energy?
Dark matter and dark energy are named for the mystery surrounding their composition. Most of the mass in galaxies and clusters comes from dark matter, which helps shape the vast cosmic structures we observe. Dark energy, in contrast, is the force responsible for the accelerating expansion of the universe. In simple terms, dark matter binds matter together, while dark energy drives it apart.
Although both are abundant, neither emits, absorbs, or reflects light, which makes them extremely difficult to detect directly. Nevertheless, their gravitational influence shapes galaxies and large-scale cosmic structures. Dark energy makes up about 68% of the universe’s energy, surpassing dark matter’s 27%.
Catching Murmurs in The Midst of Turmoil
At Texas A&M, Mahapatra’s team is developing extremely sensitive detectors designed to capture signals from particles that rarely interact with normal matter—signals that could help uncover the mysteries of dark matter.
“The difficulty is that dark matter interacts so weakly that we need detectors capable of observing events that might occur only once a year, or even once every ten years,” Mahapatra explained.
The group has played a role in a leading global dark matter experiment using a detector called TESSERACT. “It’s all about innovation,” he said. “We’re finding ways to amplify signals that were previously lost in noise.”
Texas A&M is among a select number of institutions involved in the TESSERACT project.
Redefining What’s Possible
Mahapatra’s research continues a decades-long effort to extend the boundaries of particle detection, highlighted by his 25-year involvement in the SuperCDMS experiment. In a groundbreaking 2014 Physical Review Letters paper, he and his collaborators presented voltage-assisted calorimetric ionization detection within SuperCDMS—a major advancement that enabled the study of low-mass WIMPs, a prominent dark matter candidate. This method significantly enhanced sensitivity to particles that had previously been undetectable.
In 2022, Mahapatra co-authored a study examining complementary strategies for detecting WIMPs, including direct detection, indirect detection, and collider searches. The research highlights the worldwide, multi-faceted effort to unravel the mystery of dark matter.
“No single experiment can provide all the answers,” Mahapatra emphasizes. “We need different approaches working together to build a complete understanding.”
Studying dark matter goes beyond academic curiosity—it is essential for uncovering the fundamental laws of nature. “Detecting dark matter would mark a new era in physics,” Mahapatra explained. “This quest requires extremely sensitive technologies and could pave the way for innovations we can’t yet imagine.”
Read the original article on: Phys.Org
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