Search for low-mass Dark Matter with the CRESST Experiment

TL;DR

The CRESST experiment searches for low-mass dark matter particles and dark photons using cryogenic CaWO4 detectors, achieving new limits and improving detector performance to explore previously inaccessible parameter spaces.

Contribution

This paper reports on the latest results from CRESST-III phase 1, including detector upgrades and background suppression techniques, advancing the search for low-mass dark matter and dark photons.

Findings

Established new limits for dark matter-nucleon cross section below 1 GeV/c^2

Excluded new parameter space for dark photons between 300 eV/c^2 and 700 eV/c^2

Demonstrated improved detector performance and background reduction

Abstract

CRESST is a multi-stage experiment directly searching for dark matter (DM) using cryogenic $\mathrm{CaWO_4}$ crystals. Previous stages established leading limits for the spin-independent DM-nucleon cross section down to DM-particle masses $m_\mathrm{DM}$ below $1\,\mathrm{GeV/c^2}$. Furthermore, CRESST performed a dedicated search for dark photons (DP) which excludes new parameter space between DP masses $m_\mathrm{DP}$ of $300\,\mathrm{eV/c^2}$ to $700\,\mathrm{eV/c^2}$. In this contribution we will discuss the latest results based on the previous CRESST-II phase 2 and we will report on the status of the current CRESST-III phase 1: in this stage we have been operating 10 upgraded detectors with $24,\mathrm{g}$ target mass each and enhanced detector performance since summer 2016. The improved detector design in terms of background suppression and reduction of the detection threshold will be discussed with respect to the previous stage. We will conclude with an outlook on the potential of the next stage, CRESST-III phase 2.