The world’s largest particle collider, the Large Hadron Collider, is where scientists are conducting groundbreaking research deep underground at the France-Switzerland border. The primary objective is to recreate the conditions that existed immediately after the Big Bang by smashing protons into each other at nearly the speed of light. This process generates subatomic debris that may hold crucial hints about the universe’s “missing matter” according to Duke physicist Ashutosh Kotwal.
Dark matter, which is still a mystery to scientists, plays a significant role in the search. Despite being invisible, dark matter is five times more abundant than ordinary matter, comprising the bulk of the universe. Its existence has been inferred through its gravitational effects on celestial bodies but understanding its nature remains a challenge. Researchers at the Large Hadron Collider are leveraging advanced detectors that function like massive 3D digital cameras to capture the spray of particles resulting from proton collisions.
Among the major hurdles faced by scientists is the overwhelming amount of data generated during collisions. With the detectors capturing approximately 40 million snapshots of particles each second, the task of isolating relevant information becomes akin to finding a needle in a haystack. Kotwal’s solution involves the development of a “track trigger,” an algorithm capable of swiftly identifying and flagging disappearing tracks that could indicate the presence of dark matter. By utilizing multiple AI engines, the algorithm can process images in less than 250 nanoseconds, streamlining the data analysis process.
While Kotwal and his team have made significant progress in demonstrating the feasibility of their approach, there are still challenges ahead. Building a prototype of the device is the immediate goal, with plans to incorporate approximately 2000 chips for optimal performance. However, the full implementation of the technology at the LHC detectors is expected to take another three to four years. As the accelerator ramps up its operations, generating more particles for analysis, Kotwal’s device could prove instrumental in ensuring that any signs of dark matter production are not overlooked.
The pursuit of dark matter and other cosmic mysteries at the Large Hadron Collider represents a monumental scientific endeavor. With cutting-edge technology and innovative solutions such as Kotwal’s track trigger algorithm, researchers are pushing the boundaries of particle physics to unlock the secrets of the universe. As the quest for dark matter continues, the collaboration between human ingenuity and artificial intelligence holds the promise of groundbreaking discoveries that could reshape our understanding of the cosmos.
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