Center for Axion and
Precision Physics Research

Mission

Center for Axion and Precision Physics Research

CAPP is engaged in fundamental research in particle and nuclear physics to gain a deeper understanding of the nature of dark matter in our universe as well as the matter anti-matter asymmetry mystery of our universe.

CAPP, the Center for Axion and Precision Physics established in October 2013, is part of the Institute for Basic Science of the Republic of Korea. We are engaged in fundamental research in particle and nuclear physics to gain a deeper understanding of the nature of dark matter in our universe as well as the matter anti-matter asymmetry mystery of our universe.

The dark matter candidate we focus our research on is the axion particle, a postulated particle originating from the solution of the Strong CP-problem (even though strong interactions permit large electric dipole moments for the neutron¹, the experimental limits are about 10 orders below expectations). The axion mass depends on theory parameters that are not known presently and a priory the mass range can be very large. Axions in the mass range of 0.001 meV to 1 meV would be ideal dark matter candidates. We currently study the resonant microwave technique invented first by P. Sikivie in the 1980’s. Our goal is to become sensitive to the axion dark matter even if it is as little as 10% of the local dark matter halo.

In parallel, we are promoting the improvement in the proton electric dipole moment of the proton by several orders of magnitude using techniques developed for the muon g-2 experiment as well as in accelerators around the world. The sensitivity goal is 10^-29ecm that would make it the best hadronic EDM experiment. The physics reach would be at the 1000 TeV level and it is complementary to the LHC physics that is taking place at CERN/Switzerland.

We are inspiring to do research with highest degree of competence and integrity, without regard to ethnicity, religion, or sex of the people at CAPP.

¹ The neutron has a magnetic dipole moment, a magnet-like feature, due to its internal spin rotation. If it’s also found to have a battery like feature, i.e. a charge splitting along its magnetic axis, also known as electric dipole moment (EDM), it would have fundamental implications on our understanding of nature.