New Facility Launch: The University of Sheffield opens a £1M ultra-low temperature research lab, advancing dark matter and quantum technology studies.
Advanced Equipment: Oxford Instruments' ProteoxMX refrigerator supports dark matter detection and precise quantum measurements.
Educational Impact: PhD students and undergraduates will gain experience with cutting-edge quantum instruments and techniques.
The University of Sheffield has opened a £1M ultra-low temperature facility for dark matter and qubit research. The new lab serves as a hub for UK students and expands the university’s quantum technology research capabilities. Oxford Instruments NanoScience supplied the facility with the ProteoxMX, a sophisticated dilution refrigerator and superconducting magnet, ensuring precise control at ultra-low temperatures.
The project was funded by UK Research Councils (UKRI) through the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) and represents the first closed-cycle dilution refrigerator installed at the University of Sheffield. The refrigerator will support research conducted by the Quantum Sensors for the Hidden Sector (QSHS) collaboration, led by Professor Ed Daw.
The lab was officially opened by Professors Ian Shipsey, Koen Lamberts, and Ed Daw at the School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences. The new equipment enables researchers to probe quantum physics, search for dark matter, and nurture the next generation of scientists. Oxford Instruments' combined expertise in cryogenics and magnets played a critical role in integrating the ProteoxMX into Sheffield’s research environment.
The ProteoxMX supports dark matter detection by generating the extremely low temperatures necessary to detect weak signals. The research focus includes investigating axions—hypothetical dark matter particles—and measuring the properties of quantum electronics, such as amplifiers, sensors, and qubits.
"It's been really great seeing the fridge and magnet taking shape, and being installed. I look forward to many years of quantum physics here at Sheffield. We have already had our first visitors from the US using this facility, and have succeeded in cooling many kilograms of copper and stainless steel to 18mK, as well as maintaining this temperature in our apparatus in the magnetic field."
— Professor Ed Daw, University of Sheffield
In addition to advancing research, the facility offers students valuable experience in ultra-low temperature physics. These skills align with the growing demand for expertise in quantum instrumentation and computing, providing students with hands-on opportunities highly relevant to the field.
Matt Martin, Managing Director of Oxford Instruments NanoScience, emphasized the importance of the collaboration. “We are excited to support Sheffield’s new ultra-low temperature facility. The overlapping dual track of qubit and dark matter research is an extremely promising field and a unique application for our technologies. With our in-house expertise in superconducting magnets and dilution refrigerator technologies we are ideally positioned to support dark matter and qubit researchers. We look forward to continuing our collaboration with Sheffield as its research endeavours continue.”
Angela Warren, Project Manager, highlighted the lab's potential: “The newly refurbished laboratory is now up and running and this apparatus will enable experiments that haven't been tried and tested before. It will open up more exciting opportunities ahead in the search for axions and in working towards solving problems in the search for hidden sector dark matter. We look forward to working with new and existing researchers, both in the UK and internationally.”