Breakthrough Tracker record
Direct observation of the Migdal effect induced by neutron bombardment
A purpose-built detector recorded six correlated nuclear-recoil and electron-track candidates among almost one million events, producing a reported significance above 5σ. The measured cross-section ratio agrees within uncertainty with theory.
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- Stable ID
migdal-effect-direct-observation-2026- Revision
migdal-effect-direct-observation-2026.v1- Field
- Physics · Experimental nuclear and particle physics
- Evidence
- Tier 1 · Peer reviewed: Yes
- Record state
- Current · Peer-reviewed experimental observation
- Last checked
AI role
No AI assistance was disclosed in the paper or linked reporting.
Record details
- Problem or result
- Direct laboratory validation of the Migdal effect in neutral-particle collisions
- Authors
- Difan Yi, Qian Liu, Shi Chen and collaborators
- Institutions
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangxi University, Central China Normal University, Lanzhou University and partners
- Result date
- January 14, 2026
Why it matters
The observation supplies an empirical anchor for light-dark-matter searches that use the Migdal effect to extend their sensitivity.
Limits
This was a controlled neutron–nucleus experiment, not a dark-matter detection. The signal rests on six candidate events, so replication in other target materials and recoil regimes remains important.
Sources
- Primary: Primary paper in Nature
- Independent: Nature Physics specialist commentary
Correction and revision history
- Initial entry.
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