TES4DM project

Discovering light dark matter

Impact

One of the greatest challenges in modern physics is dark matter which has been the object of 30 years of intensive research. This is a crucial phenomenon in particle physics, astrophysics and cosmology. The aim of the TES4DM project is to detect dark matter on a scale of 12 orders of magnitude in mass, ranging from fractions of an electronvolt (eV) to the mass of a proton. This capability is unprecedented in the field. TES4DM works towards achieving this in conjunction with the Franco-American TESSERACT collaborative project and uses various target materials and new ultra-sensitive cryogenic detector technologies. By installing its experiments at Europe's deepest underground laboratory in Modane, the project positions France as a leader in light dark matter research. Working on this site will make it possible to integrate cutting-edge detection technologies, thus consolidating France's world-renowned expertise in this area and paving the way for new avenues of exploration to understand more about the Universe.

Limitations to overcome

The TES4DM project will need to respond to several major challenges to achieve its scientific objectives. Among these we may cite the development of cryogenic and semiconductor hybrid detector technology capable of detecting dark matter interacting with nuclei and electrons. It is crucial to develop effective methods for the identification of dark matter signals while rejecting background noise even at very low energy levels of a few electron volts. Achieving these objectives is essential for unprecedented sensitivities to be guaranteed and current limits on the capabilities of cryogenic experiments overcome.

Risks

The main risks include the difficulty of attaining the expected detection performance level and in lowering detection thresholds from a few tens of eV down to a hundred meV. It is also critical to extend the background rejection techniques down to the lowest energies. The risks have all been assessed, with technical solutions already been identified or in development by TES4DM.

Innovation potential

The TES4DM project will generate significant scientific, societal and technological benefits. From a scientific standpoint, It aims at improving  sensitivity to dark matter which will impact the fields of particle physics, astrophysics and cosmology. From a societal standpoint the project could facilitate the detection of antineutrinos from nuclear reactors which will in turn serve to enhance monitoring and also contribute to the non-proliferation of fissile materials. Finally, in technological terms, quantum computing could be benefit from this research into very low-energy background noise assumed to be caused by excess parasitic heat and surrounding radioactivity and which limits the coherence time of qubits. Finding a solution to this excess noise will possibly lead to more efficient qubit manufacturing and stability.