The recent results of the experiment lux-zeplin (LZ), one of the most sensitive detectors in the world, again left scientists without direct evidence of the existence of dark matter, despite high hopes. Dark matter continues to be a significant mystery in modern physics, even after years of research and technological improvements.
Dark matter, which scientists estimate to make up about 85% of all the matter in the Universe, does not interact with electromagnetic radiation, making it invisible to traditional detectors. It only reveals its presence through gravitational interactions, affecting the movement and rotation of galaxies in space.
For a long time, the most promising candidate for dark matter was considered to be wimp (weakly interacting massive particles), which could be detected indirectly through their gravitational effects or collisions with atoms in detectors like lux-zeplin.
The Lux-Zeplin Experiment and Its Results
Lux-Zeplin, located almost 1500 meters underground in a former gold mine in South Dakota, is an advanced detector designed to search for dark matter. It utilizes 10 tons of liquid xenon cooled to -100°C to register signals. Despite 280 days of operation, scientists did not observe any traces of WIMPs passing through the detector, casting doubt on the existing theories.
While the experiment did not directly detect dark matter particles, it helped to narrow down the possible masses and interactions of WIMPs. The increased sensitivity of Lux-Zeplin compared to previous studies was noteworthy, but the detector could not analyze particles with masses below 9 GeV. This suggests that dark matter may not be related to WIMPs as initially thought, prompting scientists to reconsider their hypotheses.
The Problem of Neutrino and the Future of Research
Future research aims to develop even more sensitive detectors to continue the search for dark matter. However, scientists acknowledge the challenge posed by the “neutrino background“, which sets a limit on sensitivity levels that must be overcome in future experiments.