UH scientists hunt for antimatter in space

Reading time: 2 minutesThe project will project analyze data from the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer aboard the International Space Station. (Photo credit: NASA)

A University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa project to investigate potential signs of antimatter (particles with opposite charge to ordinary matter) in space has been awarded a $600,000 grant from the National Science Foundation.

This research by Department of Physics and Astronomy Professor Philip von Doetinchem is contributing to unraveling one of the greatest mysteries in modern physics—the nature of dark matter—which makes up about 85% of the universe’s mass and affects cosmic structure, yet remains invisible and poorly understood.

“By carefully scrutinizing our antimatter search data that we collected in space, we’re not just pushing the boundaries of science; we’re also heading toward a new era in particle astrophysics,” Doetinchem said.

Doetinchem will lead a three-year project analyzing data from the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS-02) aboard the International Space Station. The AMS-02 has potentially found rare antiparticles called antideuterons and antihelium in space. These findings could be evidence of dark matter or point to new physics beyond our current understanding. However, they might also be explained by known cosmic processes. Resolving the nature of the origin is the prime motivation for the project.

Doetinchem’s Cosmic Ray Antiparticle team, composed of postdoctoral researcher Anirvan Shukla and graduate students Bobby Lyon and Ammar Bayyari, will use advanced analysis techniques, including machine learning, to analyze more data from the upgraded AMS-02. They’ll also incorporate results from new measurements on the ground with the SPS Heavy Ion and Neutrino Experiment (NA61/SHINE) at CERN, a leading physics research center in Europe, to interpret the results from space.

Currently, scientists lack a comprehensive explanation for why they’re potentially seeing these antimatter particles in space or why they appear in the proportions observed. This research aims to solve this cosmic riddle and potentially reshape our understanding of the universe’s fundamental makeup.

Empowering students through cosmic science

Beyond its scientific goals, the project includes an educational outreach component. In collaboration with Lena Stone’s team from UH Mānoa’s Office of Student Equity, Excellence and Diversity, Doetinchem’s team continues providing hands-on computer programming lessons for underrepresented high school students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds on Oʻahu’s Leeward Coast. Additionally, the researchers collaborate with Sandra von Doetinchem from the UH Mānoa Outreach College and others on developing strategies to enhance STEM education efforts for older adults.

The Department of Physics and Astronomy is housed in the UH Mānoa College of Natural Sciences.

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