The Optomechanical Dark-matter Instrument (ODIN) is a clear example of EQUS pushing quantum sensing technologies to new extremes.

Developed by EQUS Research Fellow Dr Chris Baker (UQ) and Chief Investigator Dr Maxim Goryachev (UWA), ODIN aims to detect dark matter by measuring one of the faintest possible signals: the scattering of dark-matter particles off superfluid helium.

Such collisions would generate tiny vibrations, or phonons – far too weak for conventional sensors to detect. ODIN overcomes this by using quantum optomechanics to transduce these low-energy phonons into high-energy photons, producing a measurable signal with minimal added noise. The device operates at ultracold temperatures, where quantum noise is reduced and sensitivity approaches the fundamental quantum limit.

This first-of-its-kind application of optomechanics to individual particle detection demonstrates the power of quantum-enabled diagnostics to extend beyond traditional sensing tasks. It aligns closely with EQUS’s Program 2 goals: to build systems with greater sensitivity and resolution, and to prove quantum advantage in real applications.

While ODIN is designed for discovery science, its technological significance extends far beyond dark matter. The same principles – quantum-limited amplification, low-noise environments, and transduction of weak excitations – are directly relevant to future sensors in fields like gravity mapping, materials science, and biomedical diagnostics.

ODIN is not only a bold step in the search for dark matter, but a platform for quantum sensing innovation. It reflects EQUS’s broader mission to build deployable, next-generation diagnostic tools that surpass classical limitations and open new frontiers in measurement.