Neutron Background Studies for the CRESST Dark Matter Experiment

TL;DR

This paper investigates neutron backgrounds in the CRESST II dark matter experiment using Monte Carlo simulations to identify sources and mitigation strategies, aiming to improve future sensitivity.

Contribution

It provides a detailed simulation-based analysis of neutron backgrounds and proposes measures to reduce their impact on dark matter detection.

Findings

Neutrons are the main background limiting sensitivity.

Different neutron sources affect the experiment variably.

Mitigation strategies are essential for future phases.

Abstract

The new detection concept applied for the direct WIMP search experiment CRESST II, which enables a clear discrimination between electron recoils and nuclear recoils, will leave neutrons as the main background. This background will soon limit the sensitivity of the experiment and therefore become an important issue for the next phase of CRESST. We have performed a study based on Monte Carlo simulations to investigate how neutrons from different origins affect CRESST and which measures have to be taken to reach the projected sensitivity.