Specialists from the Budker Institute of Nuclear Physics SB RAS have begun preparing experiments to detect a hypothetical "dark photon" — a particle that may act as a link between visible and dark matter. The research will be conducted on the VEPP-6 electron-positron collider, which is under construction and will replace the outdated VEPP-4M facility.
As explained by a representative of the institute, the essence of the experiment lies in analyzing the energy released during the collision of electrons and positrons. If an energy imbalance occurs during annihilation, it may indicate the birth of a "dark photon." Unlike ordinary photons, this particle does not interact with electromagnetic fields, making it "invisible" to standard detection methods.
The new collider is designed for an energy range of 0.5 to 2.1 GeV — optimal for the search for light elementary particles. The 366-meter-long facility will allow the study of exotic forms of matter, including hypothetical objects made of gluons — particles responsible for the strong interaction in the nuclei of atoms.
The project concept will be completed by the end of 2026, and its implementation will cost 23 billion rubles. Chinese researchers, as well as scientists from 10–15 countries, will participate in the creation of the collider. The facility is expected to begin operation within five years.
The discovery of a "dark photon" could revolutionize our understanding of fundamental interactions and shed light on the nature of dark matter, which makes up 85% of the mass of the Universe. The success of the experiment will open new avenues in the development of technologies related to energy and materials science, and will also strengthen international cooperation in the field of high-energy physics.
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