Speaker
Florian Reindl
(Max-Planck-Insitute for Physics Munich)
Description
While the presence of dark matter in the universe was verified by observations on various astronomical scales, the nature of dark matter still remains a puzzling question. The most favored solution is the existence of Weakly Interacting Massive Particles (WIMPs). Experiments around the globe search for WIMPs; one of them is CRESST aiming to directly detect WIMPs scattering off nuclei in CaWO$_4$ target crystals.
The main background in CRESST-II phase 1 (2009-2012) originated from alpha decays on, or slightly below non-scintillating materials in the line of sight to the crystal. Thus, we developed new detector designs for phase 2 (2013-now) capable to veto such events.
In this contribution we will present a low-threshold analysis of 2013 data of phase 2 from a single upgraded detector module. With 29kg days of exposure we could set a leading limit in the low WIMP-mass region below 3GeV/c$^2$. While detector performance is the key factor for low WIMP masses, the exposure of the full phase 2 data set (still blinded) will be needed to further improve for higher WIMP masses.
Due to low thresholds and a precise energy reconstruction, CRESST detectors are ideal to measure tiny nuclear recoils ($\mathcal{O}$(1 keV)) expected for light WIMPs ($\mathcal{O}$(1GeV/c$^2$)). Thus, CRESST-III phase 1 will use new upgraded detectors optimized towards the detection of low-mass WIMPs. We will report on the currently ongoing preparations for CRESST-III phase 1 and outlooks beyond.
Primary author
Florian Reindl
(Max-Planck-Insitute for Physics Munich)
