# First results from the CRESST-III low-mass dark matter program

## TL;DR

CRESST-III's initial results demonstrate a low-energy threshold of 30.1 eV in a cryogenic detector, enhancing sensitivity to light dark matter particles down to 160 MeV/c².

## Contribution

This work presents the first analysis of a CRESST-III detector achieving a sub-40 eV threshold for low-mass dark matter detection.

## Key findings

- Achieved a nuclear recoil threshold of 30.1 eV
- Sensitive to dark matter particles as light as 160 MeV/c²
- Operated a 23.6g CaWO₄ detector at ~15mK

## Abstract

The CRESST experiment is a direct dark matter search which aims to measure interactions of potential dark matter particles in an earth-bound detector. With the current stage, CRESST-III, we focus on a low energy threshold for increased sensitivity towards light dark matter particles. In this manuscript we describe the analysis of one detector operated in the first run of CRESST-III (05/2016-02/2018) achieving a nuclear recoil threshold of 30.1eV. This result was obtained with a 23.6g CaWO$_4$ crystal operated as a cryogenic scintillating calorimeter in the CRESST setup at the Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso (LNGS). Both the primary phonon/heat signal and the simultaneously emitted scintillation light, which is absorbed in a separate silicon-on-sapphire light absorber, are measured with highly sensitive transition edge sensors operated at ~15mK. The unique combination of these sensors with the light element oxygen present in our target yields sensitivity to dark matter particle masses as low as 160MeV/c$^2$.