A new laser experiment could create dark matter

Today, we know that the visible parts of the universe are only a part of the total. The rest is thought to be dark matter and dark energy, which are invisible by nature. A new experiment starting in Germany may reveal some truths about dark matter and energy.

ALPS II will try to detect dark matter by filtering light with an advanced device

It is very difficult to study dark matter because it is invisible. However, not only is dark matter invisible, it also does not interact with ordinary matter except by gravity. To investigate dark matter, which has become very difficult to investigate due to these properties, researchers started the ALPS II experiment at Deutsches Electronen-Synchrotron (DESY).

The ALPS II experiment consists of a 250-metre tunnel with an optical cavity that powers the laser. As the laser travels through the tunnel called Hera, it is exposed to an intense magnetic field produced by 12 superconducting magnets. In theory, exposing a normal photon to such a high-power field could create dark matter.

A recent study of Einstein Rings claims that the axes are closer to what we see in the universe. Building on this claim, the ALPS II experiment hopes that at least some of the photons in the laser will spin into axes when they encounter the magnetic field. But since dark matter doesn’t interact with anything, to detect this, ALPS II will filter all unconverted light with an advanced instrument.

The detectors in the tunnel are designed to be extremely sensitive. DESY’s Axel Lindner compares this experiment to the probability that all 33 dice rolls are the same. However, if any light leaks through the wall, it can profoundly affect how we understand the universe.