(N.B. special date and time) First Observation of the Migdal Effect in Neutron Nucleus Scattering

Speakers: Prof. Yangheng Zheng (Chinese Academy of Sciences)

Using a sensitive detection system developed by the MigdAl pRocess Validation by nEutruaL scattering (MERVEL) collaboration team, which combines a micropattern gasous detector with a semiconductor pixel readout chip, the apparatus effectively functions as a camera capable of imaging the single‑atom electron‑emission process. Using neutron–nucleus scattering, the team made the first direct experimental observation of the Migdal effect—predicted in 1939 from quantum mechanics—providing key evidence to overcome the threshold limitations of low‑mass dark‑matter searches. Detectors of this type also have broad application potential in areas such as space‑based soft X‑ray polarization measurements and particle‑identification systems for particle spectrometers..

https://indico.phys.hawaii.edu/event/2758/