Dark Cosmos | University of Florida

Gravitational Waves & Axions

Gavitational forces in our universe are five times stronger than expected. Thus scientists conclude that the cosmos is dominated by a form of matter that is completly invisible to our instuments. We call it "Dark Matter".

There are many hypothesis as to its origin, ranging from new elementary particles to primordial black holes. Among the most exciting experiments that may shed light on the nature of Dark Matter are gravitational wave observatories and Axion-like particle detectors.

What do we do?

Advanced LIGO was the first 2nd generation gravitational wave detector and made the first direct detection of gravitational waves back in 2015.

LIGO Group

ALPS-IIc, the dark matter generator, is currently under construction and will be the largest and most powerful "light shining through a wall" experiment.

ALPS Group

LISA, a mission by the European Space Agency with NASA contributions, will be able to detect low-frequency gravitational waves from space. Launch: early 2030th.

LISA Group

Who is DARKCOSMOS?

More than 50 physicists and engineers from different departments of the University of Florida work together in international research groups to help study the dark side of the universe.

Gainesville, Florida
USA

Gravitational waves arrive on Earth

The first ever detected gravitational wave signal traveled for over a billion years from a distant corner of the universe. It hit Earth on September 14^th, 2015, and was detected by LIGO Livingston, LA, and LIGO Hanford, WA.

LIGO – Gravitational Wave Detectors

LIGO are two multi-kilometer-scale gravitational wave detectors that use laser interferometry to measure tiny ripples in space-time caused by passing gravitational waves. LIGO consists of two widely separated interferometers within the United States, one in Hanford, Washington and the other in Livingston, Louisiana.

GO TO LIGO

The ALPS Setup

ALPS: two matched 100 meter long optical cavities – one holding a strong light field, one in darkness – placed in ultra-high vacuum and surrounded by superconducting magnets. If photons spontaneously resonate in the dark cavity, it must be because we produced weakly interacting massive particles in the first cavity.

ALPS – Dark Matter Generator

ALPS is an experiment currently being developed to generate and detect dark matter candidate particles in the laboratory. Informally described as shining light through walls, ALPS strives to show the existence of such particles by means of a coupling between axions and photons.

GO TO ALPS

From the Big Bang to the End of the Universe

Everyone is invited to join the live talk by by Nobel Laureate Dr. John Mather live from the University of Florida, Bryant Space Science Building: September 21, 12:45 PM ET.

The James Webb Space Telescope, planned for launch in October 2018, will be the most powerful space telescope ever built. It will open new territories of astronomy, with observations ranging from the first stars, galaxies, and black holes, to the growth of galaxies, to the formation of stars and planetary systems, to the evolution of planetary systems and the conditions for life here on Earth, and perhaps elsewhere.

View on YouTube

Former members

Show: LIGO ALPS

This is just a test

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