Quantum Sensing in the Hidden Sector
November 4 (Thursday), 2021
10:00 am to 11:00 am (EDT) – note it is 1.5hrs earlier!
Virtual via Zoom
Abstract: The dark matter problem is one of the most puzzling aspects of astrophysics. It turns out that more than 80% of the matter in the Universe is in a form that we have never detected and do not understand. Dark matter could, perhaps, be made up of axions, elusive very light particles that, hypothetically, were created shortly after the big bang. Detectors for axions must be sensitive to yoctowatts of power generated by axions converting to photons in a resonator. So, the lowest noise electronics in the world is essential. Dr. Daw will introduce axions, describe the experiments that are searching for them, and explain what sorts of quantum electronics can do the job.
Biography: Ed Daw is professor of gravitational wave and dark matter physics at The University of Sheffield, United Kingdom. He received his BA from Oxford University in 1991 and his Ph.D. from M.I.T. in 1998. He has worked on dark matter searches and the LIGO detectors for gravitational waves. He has a side-interest in digital signal processing on FPGAs. Outside work, Ed likes to play the piano, recently accompanying his daughter Georgia, whose hobby is jazz singing. He also likes welding, general car maintenance, and cooking.