The University of Sheffield has unveiled a new ultra-low temperature facility, equipped with state-of-the-art equipment from Oxford Instruments NanoScience, to advance research in dark matter and qubits. The £1 million facility, funded by UK Research Councils, features a closed-cycle dilution refrigerator and superconducting magnet, allowing scientists to probe fundamental physics at the quantum level.
Led by Professor Ed Daw, the Quantum Sensors for the Hidden Sector collaboration will utilize the facility to detect extremely weak dark matter signals and make precise measurements of quantum electronics devices. The laboratory was officially opened by Professors Ian Shipsey, Koen Lamberts, and Ed Daw, with special guest Sir Keith Burnett, Chair of the QSHS project Oversight Committee.
Oxford Instruments NanoScience’s Managing Director, Matt Martin, expressed excitement to support Sheffield’s research endeavors, which will have implications in quantum instrumentation and computing. The facility will also provide opportunities for students to gain experience in ultra-low-temperature physics and operation of dilution refrigerators.
Ultra-Low Temperature Facility for Dark Matter and Qubit Research
The University of Sheffield has recently opened a new ultra-low temperature facility, providing a hub for students in the UK and expanding the scope of quantum technology research at the university. The facility is equipped with the ProteoxMX, a state-of-the-art dilution refrigerator and superconducting magnet manufactured by Oxford Instruments NanoScience.
The ProteoxMX is well suited to dark matter detection research as it generates the ultra-low temperature environment needed to detect extremely weak dark matter signals. The University chose Oxford Instruments due to its combined expertise in cryogenics and magnets, developing and managing both technologies in-house to support successful integrations into lab environments. This expertise enables the creation of high-performance, cryogen-free low-temperature and magnetic environments that are essential for research at the atomic scale.
The facility will be utilized by the Quantum Sensors for the Hidden Sector (QSHS) collaboration, led by Professor Ed Daw. The QSHS project aims to develop new quantum sensors that can detect dark matter particles, such as axions. The ProteoxMX will allow scientists to probe fundamental physics at the quantum level and search for dark matter signals.
Research Implications in Quantum Instrumentation and Computing
The research conducted at the facility has implications beyond dark matter detection, extending to quantum instrumentation and quantum computing. The ProteoxMX will be used to make precise measurements of the performance and properties of quantum electronics devices such as amplifiers, power sensors, and engineered two-state quantum systems called qubits.
Qubits are the fundamental building blocks of quantum computers, and their development is crucial for the advancement of quantum computing. The ultra-low temperature environment provided by the ProteoxMX will enable researchers to study the behavior of qubits in detail, paving the way for the development of more robust and efficient quantum computing systems.
Opportunities for Students and Researchers
The facility offers opportunities for PhD students and undergraduates to gain experience in ultra-low-temperature physics and the operation of dilution refrigerators. This expertise is highly relevant to growth areas in industries such as quantum instrumentation and quantum computing.
Researchers from around the world will also have access to the facility, enabling international collaboration and advancing the field of quantum physics. The facility has already attracted its first visitors from the US, demonstrating its potential for global research partnerships.
Facility Capabilities and Future Prospects
The ProteoxMX has already demonstrated its capabilities by cooling many kilograms of copper and stainless steel to 18mK, as well as maintaining this temperature in the magnetic field. This achievement highlights the facility’s potential for conducting cutting-edge research in quantum physics.
Professor Ed Daw expressed his enthusiasm for the facility, stating that it will be at the forefront of quantum physics for years to come. The facility’s project manager, Angela Warren, also emphasized its potential for opening up new opportunities in the search for axions and hidden sector dark matter.
The collaboration between Oxford Instruments NanoScience and the University of Sheffield is expected to continue, with both parties committed to advancing the field of quantum physics. Matt Martin, Managing Director of Oxford Instruments NanoScience, expressed his excitement about supporting Sheffield’s research endeavors, highlighting the unique application of their technologies in this field.
External Link: Click Here For More
