September 28, 2026: Chiara Salemi

Physics Colloquium with Chiara Salemi: Tuning in to axion dark matter: how we search for an “invisible” particle with powerful magnets and quantum sensors Axions are one of the most compelling answers to the question of what makes up the majority of the matter in the universe: the dark matter. Detecting axion dark matter is a challenge, due to the particle’s theorized tiny coupling to visible matter and its very low, unknown mass. To reach sensitivity to the best-motivated axion models, we are addressing these challenges with innovative experimental techniques and new technologies, working to increase signal strength as well as beat down the noise. Here I will discuss the work we are doing at Berkeley, developing technologies to enable future, large-scale detectors as well as building intermediate-scale experiments with unprecedented sensitivity.