Superconductors inspire quantum test for dark energy

April 3, 2007 | Source: NewScientist.com news service

Quantum mechanics says that the vacuum of space is seething with virtual photons that are popping in and out of existence. Physicists suggest that when these virtual photons have a frequency below around 2 terahertz, they are able to interact gravitationally, contributing to dark energy.

Physicist Paul Warburton at University College London is building such a dark energy detector and could have results next year.