LUX-ZEPLIN

Abstract:

In the CRESST-II experiment, scintillating CaWO4 crystals are used as absorbers for direct weakly interacting massive particles (WIMP) detection. Nuclear recoils can be discriminated against electron recoils by measuring phonons and scintillation light simultaneously. The absorber crystal and the silicon light detector are read out by tungsten superconducting phase transition thermometers. Results on the sensitivity of the phonon and the light channel, radiopurity, the scintillation properties of CaWO4, and on the WIMP sensitivity are presented. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Abstract:

We have developed a 66-channel SQUID system to read out the detectors for the second phase of the CRESST dark matter search using SQUID sensors, electronics and cryocables supplied by different manufacturers. The system has been extensively tested at Oxford to characterise the sensitivity, bandwidth, slew rate, noise, thermal drift, and crosstalk. By using the SQUID sensors as magnetometers we can confirm the input circuit for the detectors is superconducting, thus ensuring there will be no noise from parasitic resistance. Multichannel SQUID systems have further applications in particle physics experiments, such as precision magnetometry in the search for the neutron electric dipole moment. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Abstract:

Cryogenic detectors have been developed since the mid 1980s and have been applied successfully to dark-matter searches since the mid 1990s. Among the advantages of cryogenic detectors are their high sensitivity to nuclear recoil, their low detection thresholds, the wide choice of target materials and the possibility of implementing event type recognition on an event-by-event basis. I explain the basics of cryogenic detectors, review various implementations, discuss advantages and drawbacks and give an overview of current dark-matter-search experiments based upon cryogenic detectors.

Abstract:

Cryogenic detectors have been developed since the mid 1980s and have been applied successfully to dark-matter searches since the mid 1990s. Among the advantages of cryogenic detectors are their high sensitivity to nuclear recoil, their low detection thresholds, the wide choice of target materials and the possibility of implementing event type recognition on an event-by-event basis. I explain the basics of cryogenic detectors, review various implementations, discuss advantages and drawbacks and give an overview of current dark-matter-search experiments based upon cryogenic detectors.

Abstract:

Data taken by CRESST with a cryogenic detector system based on 262 g sapphire crystals has been used to place limits on WIMP dark matter. The experiment was especially sensitive for low-mass WIMPs with spin-dependent cross sections and improves on existing limits in this region.