Scott Hertel, Assoc. Professor, Dept. of Physics, University of Massachusetts-Amherst

Recent Progress Towards the Detection of Dark Matter

As you read this, you are immersed in a bath of particles beyond the Standard Model, so-called ‘dark matter’ particles which are noticed only through their gravitational effects at astrophysical scales. Discovering the properties of these unseen particles (their mass, interactions with other particles, etc.) is one of the great challenges of 21st century physics.

I will describe two complementary efforts which search for individual dark matter particles in a laboratory setting here on earth: LZ and TESSERACT. Each effort search Centeres for the individual scatters of galactic dark matter particles with atoms here on earth, and each effort requires the development of novel and interesting technologies. I will update you on our progress towards unraveling this great mystery of physics.

The event flyer is available here.