Galaxies rotate faster than can be accounted for by the gravitational effects of their visible matter. This and other observations indicate that ordinary, visible matter comprises only about five percent of the total mass-energy of the universe; another 27 percent must be dark matter that neither emits nor absorbs light or other electromagnetic radiation. Prof. Fisher’s main work focuses on experimental detection of dark matter, using new detector designs. He is the co-developer of DarkLight, an experiment at Jefferson National Accelerator Laboratory in Virginia designed to test whether dark matter consists of so-called “massive photons.” The experiment will use a narrow, high-power electron beam to generate the hypothetical particles, called A' (A prime), whose decay products would leave detectable signatures. Fisher has a side interest in wireless transmission of electric power; he was one of a group of six MIT researchers who cofounded wireless power startup WiTricity in 2007.

Photo by Justin Knight.