Northeastern University scientists and international collaborators have successfully created laboratory conditions that allowed them to observe axion quasiparticles for the first time, bringing researchers closer to understanding dark matter.

The research published this week in Nature represents a significant step in bridging the gap between theoretical physics and experimental proof, which can lead to both a better understanding of the universe and applications in future technology of magnetic memory.

The research — an effort that included more than a dozen organizations across five countries — included three Northeastern physicists: Arun Bansil, a university distinguished professor and director of the Quantum Materials and Sensing Institute; Kin Chung Fong, an associate professor of physics and electrical and computer engineering; and Barun Ghosh, a postdoctoral student.

“This study provides another exciting example of the very rich tapestry of quasiparticles that are harbored by quantum matter,” Bansil says. “It is clear that quantum materials will continue to offer us surprises long into the future to open new pathways for addressing pressing fundamental science questions as well as materials platforms for developing transformational new technologies.”

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Photo by Matt Modoono/Northeastern University