Viability of Superconducting Resonator Based Detectors

There is an abundance of evidence from astronomical and cosmological observations that suggests approximately 85% of the matter in the universe is dark matter, an unknown form of matter beyond the description of the standard model of particle physics. To date the effects of dark matter have only been observed through its interactions via gravity; experiments attempting to detect dark matter must use highly sensitive detectors and take extensive measures to reduce the background of non-signal events. It has been proposed that new detectors for dark matter may be produced by instrumenting superconducting resonators to the surface of an absorbing target to measure the energy of the particle interaction. This project aims to determine the most effective absorbing material for the superconducting sensors, and perform test with the detectors in a low-background, underground test facility.

Faculty Supervisor:

Gilles Gerbier

Student:

Partner:

Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - Institut Néel

Discipline:

Physics

Sector:

Education

University:

Queen's University

Program: