Testing new experiments for finding dark matter

1 June 2024

Photo: AG Garutti

Science City Day 2024

Photo: AG Garutti

Science City Day 2024

Photo: AG Garutti

Science City Day 2024

Photo: AG Garutti

Science City Day 2024

Photo: AG Garutti

Science City Day 2024

Photo: AG Garutti

Science City Day 2024

Photo: AG Garutti

Science City Day 2024

Photo: AG Garutti

Science City Day 2024

Photo: AG Garutti

Science City Day 2024

Photo: AG Garutti

Science City Day 2024

Photo: AG Garutti

Science City Day 2024

Photo: AG Garutti

Science City Day 2024

On Saturday, 1 June 2024, the Campus turned into an unseen special discovery ground – not only for many different new scientists but also for their families and friends who came to visit on the Science City Day Bahrenfeld. The public was invited to discover the new science district in the west of Hamburg. Also our group opened up doors, laboratories and new experimental insights into physics and dark matter search for interested guests.
The team from the MADMAX collaboration presented the Axion Knowledge Bar as they had offered it before in december, led by the artist Olivier Rossel who is currently working on his PhD in Science and Technology Studies. Olivier is observing MADMAX's search for Axions, a prominent candidate for dark matter, that would simultaneously solve the strong CP-problem if detected. On the Science City Day the guests could once again experience the Axion Knowledge Bar and “Exchange your knowledge for a drink – Share your ideas with our dark matter specialists”, but this time with the challenge of interacting with lots of families and kids from all ages. It could mean: Writing poems about feeling as a MADMAX scientist, reproducing body movements from laboratory experiments, or drawing technical hacks used in experimental procedures related to a possible future detection of axions have been traded in. Olivier, for his PhD foremost interested in tacit knowledge and scientific tinkering, took data for his own research on this occasion which is going to be reviewed and bound into an interdisciplinary publication.
But these were not the only attractions on the Science City Day: Neighboring the Axion Knowledge Bar a WAVE-field (incl. the racetrack, the rubber hammer and the "microphone") attracted lots of different new scientists to participate and learn about physics and gravitational research. And whilst walking further through the whole Campus Bahrenfeld guests could use the chance to create delicious ice-cream made from IPG liquid gas, getting familiar with a musical fire pillar, throwing the standard model with colorful science dices, or go on a digital treasure hunt organized by the Cluster of Excellence Quantum Universe. After a whole day with beautiful sunshine more than 12.000 visitor’s were counted to have experienced the new Campus from the Science City Bahrenfeld.

More info about the Science City Hamburg-Bahrenfeld
The Science City Hamburg-Bahrenfeld will span 125 hectares in Hamburg’s western suburbs, right next to Altona’s Volkspark, a public park. Besides the University, various renowned institutions, such as DESY; the European X-Ray Free-Electron Laser GmbH; the Max Planck Institute for the Structure and Dynamics of Matter; and the European Molecular Biology Laboratory already make for a research campus. Moreover, 2 out 4 Universität Hamburg clusters of excellence are located here: CUI: Advanced Imaging of Matter and Quantum Universe.
And the area continues to grow. By 2040, lively residential areas, sports and leisure facilities, and shopping opportunities will supplement research, training, and businesses. The A7 expressway will be covered and Hamburg’s racing track will be moved, facilitating the construction of 3,800 new apartments and 2 schools.
Science City Hamburg Bahrenfeld GmbH is responsible for the development of the premises. It has a center that offers, in addition to information for visitors, guided tours around the area. Every Thursday at 6 pm, there are tours for interested members of the public. You do not have to sign up! The free tours start from Infocenter Science City, Albert-Einstein-Ring 8-10. Find more information on the homepage.

More info about the Axion Knowledge Bar @ MADMAX:
Group Garutti https://www.physik.uni-hamburg.de/iexp/gruppe-garutti.html
MADMAX Collaboration https://www.mpp.mpg.de/en/research/astroparticle-physics-and-cosmology/madmax-searching-for-axion-dark-matter/
Excellence Cluster Quantum Universe https://www.qu.uni-hamburg.de/
Olivier Rossel's research https://www.mpp.mpg.de/en/news/news/intraaxion-forschen-an-der-schnittstelle-von-kunst-und-experimenteller-physik