Merging massive objects, like black holes, create gravitational waves
The Atom Interferometry Observatory and Network (AION), led by Imperial researchers, will accelerate searches for dark matter and gravitational waves.
The UKRI Science Technology and Facilities Council (STFC) has provided £7.2m of initial funding for the project within its new Quantum Technologies for Fundamental Physics programme.
AION is a uniquely interdisciplinary mission that will harness cold atom technologies to address key issues in fundamental physics, astrophysics and cosmology that can be realised in the next few decades. Professor Oliver Buchmueller
AION will enable a ground-breaking search for ultra-light candidates for dark matter – a mysterious substance that makes up 85 percent of the ‘missing’ matter of the Universe.