The Underground Search for Dark Matter
At the Museum | Fleischmann Auditorium
What is the mysterious stuff that makes up most of our universe? Dark matter is invisible, yet it shapes galaxies and holds the cosmos together. What exactly is it, and how does it affect the world we see? Join us for an exciting journey into one of science’s greatest mysteries. This public talk by Chami Amarasinghe, Ph.D., will explore a fascinating underground experiment in the Black Hills of South Dakota called LUX-ZEPLIN (LZ). This cutting-edge project is on a mission to uncover dark matter by capturing its elusive interactions with xenon atoms.
Dr. Amarasinghe is a postdoctoral researcher in the Physics Department at the University of California, Santa Barbara. He earned his Ph.D. in physics from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, where he developed a strong foundation in experimental particle physics. Amarasinghe's research focuses on unraveling one of the universe's greatest mysteries—dark matter. He is an active member of the LUX-ZEPLIN (LZ) experiment, a cutting-edge collaboration dedicated to the direct detection of dark matter, which is currently collecting data. In addition to his work with LZ, he contributes to the development and optimization of advanced detectors, paving the way for the next generation of dark matter searches.
Talk starts at 7:30 PM, but astronomy-lovers are invited to mix and mingle before the lecture and enjoy a 7:00 PM planetarium show in Gladwin Planetarium. Planetarium seats are limited, so show up early if you want to be sure of a seat. No tickets or reservations required.
This event is part of a monthly series of free astronomy talks presented by Santa Barbara’s astronomy club, the Santa Barbara Astronomical Unit (SBAU). Look for more talks and free Star Parties with the SBAU on the Museum’s astronomy calendar.
Questions? Contact Director of Education Rosina Garcia at rgarcia@sbnature2.org or 805-682-4711 ext. 172.
All-sky map from the European Space Agency’s Gaia mission showing the location of the three Euclid Deep Fields in yellow by ESA/Gaia/DPAC; Euclid Consortium
