The dark photon hunt decodes the greatest mystery of modern physics

The European Nuclear Research Organization (CERN) is trying to find evidence of a new particle called " dark photon " to solve the biggest mystery of modern physics.

The European Nuclear Research Organization (CERN) began conducting a mysterious dark photon search experiment.(Photo: Maximilien Brice.)

Dark matter accounts for about 85% of the universe, it does not interact with the electromagnetic spectrum and becomes invisible to the current human observation tool, becoming the biggest mystery that modern physics must discover. , according to Science Alert.

According to the hypothesis of dark matter, in addition to gravity, there must be another unknown force operating in the universe through which dark matter interacts with visible matter. The researchers predict that this force is formed and transmitted by a bridge called " dark photon" .

"The metaphor can be taken as follows: A dialogue cannot occur between two people who do not speak the same language (visible material and dark matter). But it will happen in the presence of a interpreter (dark photon), " said Sergei Gninenko, CERN spokesman.

Although many scientists support the hypothesis, no one has actually found the dark photon and described it accurately in the past. Things will soon change when an international research team at CERN is preparing to perform a dark photon search experiment.

CERN's project, NA64, will try to find traces of interaction between visible matter and dark matter through energy conservation laws. This law states that the total energy in a closed system remains constant over time. Scientists can accurately measure energy within an isolated system.

After creating photons from the electron beam inside the particle accelerator, if the team finds an energy change, this is a sign that something invisible is working inside the system. That may be a dark photon.

" An electron beam with a specific energy level is fired at the detector. The interaction between the incoming electron and the atomic nucleus in the detector produces visible photons. The energy of these photons is measured and it is "If the dark photon exists, they are undetected and carry most of the original electron energy ," explained the NA64 project team.

Based on the level of energy disappear, the team will determine the traces and viability of the mysterious dark photon. Finding the dark photon is the first step to determine dark matter and its activity in the universe.