Physicists Unveil Superconducting Detector for Dark Matter

Physicists at the University of Zurich have announced the development of a groundbreaking superconducting detector that can sense dark matter particles with masses far below those previously accessible, including those lighter than electrons. The announcement, made on September 10, 2025, details the results of the QROCODILE experiment, which leverages superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors (SNSPDs) to achieve unprecedented sensitivity to low-mass dark matter.

The QROCODILE detector is constructed from thin tungsten silicide microwires cooled to just 0.1 degrees above absolute zero. In this state, electrons form Cooper pairs, a hallmark of superconductivity. When a dark matter particle interacts with the nanowire, it can break these pairs, creating a tiny resistive hotspot that produces a measurable electrical pulse. This mechanism allows the detector to register energy deposits as low as 0.1 electronvolts (eV), a threshold thousands of times lower than traditional dark matter detectors, which rely on ionization or scintillation processes.

Unprecedented Sensitivity and Directional Detection

The new detector’s sensitivity enables it to probe dark matter particles with masses down to tens of kilo-electronvolts (keV), a regime previously inaccessible to direct detection experiments. The device also offers directional sensitivity, responding differently depending on the incoming direction of the particle. This feature is crucial for distinguishing genuine dark matter signals, which should align with Earth’s motion through the Milky Way, from background noise such as radioactivity or cosmic rays.

The QROCODILE experiment’s initial test run set new leading constraints on dark matter-electron scattering down to 30 keV masses. The team demonstrated that the same device is sensitive to interactions with both electrons and nuclei, thanks to phonon coupling in the material. Researchers are now working to increase the effective mass of the detector’s target material, further lower its energy threshold, and better characterize background signals at these low energies.

Implications for Dark Matter Research

This technological breakthrough opens new avenues for the direct detection of dark matter, which is believed to account for about 80 percent of the universe’s mass but has so far eluded observation. By pushing the sensitivity frontier to lower masses, the QROCODILE detector could help resolve longstanding questions about the nature and organization of dark matter particles. The experiment’s success also highlights the potential for quantum technologies, originally developed for quantum optics, to revolutionize particle physics and cosmology.

The unveiling of this detector has been widely covered by both local and international science outlets, with experts noting its potential to transform the field. While the device remains at the proof-of-principle stage, its promising results have set the stage for future experiments that may finally capture the elusive dark matter wind and shed light on one of the universe’s greatest mysteries.