Recent Results from the CRESST dark matter search

          @misc{ pirsa_PIRSA:10110061,
            doi = {10.48660/10110061},
            url = {https://pirsa.org/10110061},
            author = {Proebst, Franz},
            keywords = {Particle Physics},
            language = {en},
            title = {Recent Results from the CRESST dark matter search},
            publisher = {Perimeter Institute},
            year = {2010},
            month = {nov},
            note = {PIRSA:10110061 see, \url{https://pirsa.org}}
          }
          

Abstract

CRESST is a cryogenic dark matter search located at the Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso in Italy. Scintillating CaWO4 crystals are operated as cryogenic calorimeters. The phonon (heat) signal measured with a tungten transition edge sensor on the surface of these crystals allows a precise determination of the energy deposited in the crystal, independent of the type of interaction. A light signal, simultaneously registered by a separate cryogenic detector, serves to identify the type of interaction. This phonon/light technique allows a discrimination of electron recoils induced by radioative backgrounds from the searched nuclear recoils with high efficiency ,and, to some extent, even to determine which type of nucleus was recoiling. I will present results from 564 kg-days of data of the presently still ongoing run, which reveal an unexpected excess of oxygen recoils. To shine some light on the nature of these events, I will discuss possible backgrounds in some detail.