In the world of particle physics, scientists explore the tiniest building blocks of the universe by smashing high-energy particles together in massive machines called particle accelerators.
These collisions produce millions of tiny particles, some of which may be entirely new to science, challenging our understanding of matter, energy, space, and time.
With plans for even more powerful particle accelerators in the coming decades, researchers are searching for better ways to detect and study these subatomic storms.
The answer may lie in quantum sensors—advanced technology that can detect single particles with extreme precision.
A team of researchers from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (Fermilab), Caltech, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), the University of Geneva, and Universidad Santa María in Venezuela is leading the way with a new type of quantum sensor called superconducting microwire single-photon detectors (SMSPDs).
These sensors were recently tested at Fermilab near Chicago, where they were exposed to beams of high-energy protons, electrons, and pions.
The tests showed that SMSPDs are not only highly efficient but also capable of detecting these particles with much better time and spatial resolution than traditional detectors.
According to Maria Spiropulu, a professor of physics at Caltech, quantum technology like SMSPDs is crucial for the next generation of particle accelerators, which will produce even more intense and energetic collisions.
“We are developing quantum technology today so we can optimize next-generation searches for new particles and dark matter, and study the origins of space and time,” she said.
These sensors allow scientists to track the paths of particles in both space and time simultaneously, something that was not possible with older technology. This ability to pinpoint where and when particles appear is why they are called “4D sensors.”
The quantum sensors used in these tests are similar to those used in quantum networks and space experiments.
For example, researchers at JPL have already used a related type of sensor, called superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors (SNSPDs), to send high-definition data from space to Earth through lasers. The SNSPD sensors have also been key in quantum networking experiments, where information was teleported across long distances—a step toward creating a quantum internet.
However, for particle physics experiments, the team chose SMSPDs instead of SNSPDs because they have a larger surface area, making it easier to capture more particles during high-speed collisions.
Fermilab scientist Si Xie, who is also a researcher at Caltech, noted that this study was groundbreaking because it proved the sensors could efficiently detect charged particles, something that is essential for particle physics but not required in quantum networks or space applications.
The research team, led by Cristián Peña, a Fermilab scientist and Caltech alumnus, believes these quantum sensors will be essential for future projects like the proposed Future Circular Collider or a muon collider. These next-generation machines are expected to push the boundaries of what we know about the universe.
As particle accelerators become more powerful, producing even more particles, technologies like SMSPDs will be necessary to capture the fine details of these collisions.
With their ability to detect particles more accurately in both space and time, quantum sensors could unlock new discoveries about the building blocks of the universe, making the invisible visible.
