Nobel Prize-winning physicist John M. Martinis has been in Perth this week for the 21st Patras Workshop on Axions, WIMPs and WISPs at the University of Western Australia, where researchers are gathering to discuss the search for dark matter, elusive particles that scientific models suggest could make up as much as 85% of the universe.
Martinis, a professor of physics at the University of California, Santa Barbara, won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2025 for his pioneering work on quantum computing.
Because any signal from a dark matter candidate is thought to be so weak it would be drowned out by surrounding noise, quantum computing may be able to help. Martinis told this masthead that a lot of the technology used in the search for dark matter is similar to what is used for quantum computers: “So it's very interesting for me to come here and see what's being developed, and maybe I'll have an idea from quantum to help – maybe not, but at least it's interesting to find this out.”
He added: "If they detect these particles, this is a huge discovery that's going to change the way people think about fundamental physics, and it's great that people are seriously looking at this."
During his speech at UWA, Martinis discussed the research that led to his Nobel Prize, which involved the demonstration of a phenomenon known as “quantum tunnelling” on an electrical circuit built from superconductors. He said the combination of his passion for quantum mechanics and his electronics hobby led to the prize-winning work.
Professor James Arvanitakis, director of the Forrest Research Foundation, which brought Martinis to Perth for the workshop, said the research involved a different way of looking at computing. "I think one of the things that people find it really hard to understand is that they just think quantum is just a bigger computer, or a more powerful computer, but it's a total different logic system the way it works," he said. Arvanitakis said it was exciting for young researchers to have the Nobel Prize winner sitting in the front row for their speeches.
Martinis said he hoped to encourage young scientists and said the researchers were doing exciting experiments that were foundational if they could detect the new particles.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- Detecting dark matter would revolutionise fundamental physics, potentially rewriting the standard model.
- Quantum computing technology could provide the sensitivity needed to detect extremely weak signals from theoretical particles like WIMPs or axions.
- The visit gives early-career researchers rare access to a Nobel laureate, fostering ambitious science.
Background
Dark matter is a theoretical form of matter that does not emit, absorb, or reflect light, making it invisible. Despite never being directly detected, it is estimated to make up about 85% of the universe's mass, based on gravitational effects. John M. Martinis won the 2025 Nobel Prize in Physics for demonstrating quantum tunnelling on a superconducting circuit, a breakthrough that helped build the foundations of quantum computing. The Patras Workshop on Axions, WIMPs and WISPs is a regular international meeting focused on the search for dark matter candidates.
Key Perspectives
John M. Martinis (Nobel Prize-winning physicist, UCSB): Sees strong overlap between quantum computing technology and dark matter detection, and hopes his methods might help researchers, but remains measured: "maybe not, but at least it's interesting to find this out."
James Arvanitakis (director, Forrest Research Foundation): Emphasises that quantum computing is a radically different logic system, not just a bigger computer, and that the workshop provides a valuable platform for early-career researchers to present to a leading figure.
What to Watch
- Whether Martinis or other researchers announce collaborative experiments combining quantum sensors with dark matter detectors.
- Next steps from the workshop: any new experimental proposals for detecting axions or WIMPs that incorporate quantum techniques.
- The future of Western Australia as a hub for fundamental physics research, given events like this and the nearby Stawell Underground Physics Laboratory.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 12 supported.
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- SupportedNobel Prize-winning physicist John Martinis visited Perth for the dark matter workshop.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “And it’s the search for those particles that brought Professor John Martinis to Perth this week for the 21st Patras Workshop on Axions, WIMPs and WISPs at the University of WA.”
- SupportedThe workshop discussion concerned dark matter, which models suggest could make up as much as 85% of the universe.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “dark matter – elusive particles that are yet to be detected, but which, according to advanced scientific models, could make up as much as 85 per cent of the universe.”
- SupportedMartinis is a quantum computing pioneer who won the 2025 Nobel Prize in Physics.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “John M. Martinis receives the Nobel Prize in Physics in Sweden in 2025. [...] Martinis, a Professor of Physics at the University of California, Santa Barbara, won the Nobel Prize for Physics last year for his pioneering work on quantum computing”
- SupportedMartinis said technology used in dark matter searches is similar to technology used for quantum computers.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: ““A lot of the technology [used in the search for dark matter] is similar to what we do for quantum computers,” he told this masthead earlier this week”
- SupportedMartinis said, “So it's very interesting for me to come here and see what's being developed, and maybe I'll have an idea from quantum to help – maybe not, but at least it's interesting to find this out.”Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: ““So it’s very interesting for me to come here and see what’s being developed, and maybe I’ll have an idea from quantum to help – maybe not, but at least it’s interesting to find this out.””
- SupportedMartinis said detecting the particles would be a huge discovery that would change how people think about fundamental physics.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: ““If they detect these particles, this is a huge discovery that’s going to change the way people think about fundamental physics, and it’s great that people are seriously looking at this.””
- SupportedQuantum computing may help with dark matter searches because the signal is thought to be weak and drowned out by surrounding noise.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “Because any signal from a dark matter candidate is thought to be so weak it would be drowned out by the surrounding noise of the portion of the universe we do know about, this is where quantum computing may be able to help.”
- SupportedMartinis’s Nobel Prize-winning research demonstrated quantum tunnelling on an electrical circuit built from superconductors.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “During Martinis’ speech at UWA, he touched on the research that led to his Nobel Prize, which involved the demonstration of a phenomenon known as “quantum tunnelling” on an electrical circuit built from superconductors.”
- SupportedMartinis said his interest in quantum mechanics combined with his electronics hobby led to his prize-winning work.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: ““It was a nice way to combine my desire to understand quantum mechanics better with my hobby, which was understanding how electronic devices work,” he said.”
- SupportedJames Arvanitakis is director of the Forrest Research Foundation, which brought Martinis to Perth for the workshop.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “Professor James Arvanitakis, director of the Forrest Research Foundation, which brought Martinis to Perth for the Patras workshop, said”
- SupportedArvanitakis said quantum computing is a different logic system, not simply a bigger or more powerful computer.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: ““I think one of the things that people find it really hard to understand is that they just think quantum is just a bigger computer, or a more powerful computer, but it’s a total different logic system the way it works,” he said.”
- SupportedMartinis said he hoped to encourage young scientists and described the researchers’ experiments as exciting and foundational if they detect the new particles.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: ““I would say at a minimum, I hope that I can encourage the young scientists, and I think that you’re doing some exciting experiments that are foundational experiments if you can detect these new particles,” Martinis said.”
