The first cryogenic dark matter experiment

An experimental search for dark matter particle candidates using cryogenic detectors requires a low radioactive background environment. We discuss the status of a cryogenic dark matter experiment to be performed in the Stanford Underground Facility. The detectors will be cooled in a specially designed cryostat connected to a modified side access Oxford 400 dilution refrigerator. Details of the cryostat design and its operating performance are presented. The effectiveness of the multi-level shield surrounding the cryostat, as well as the background levels we expect to achieve in the pilot experiment are discussed. Finally, we examine the limits which can be set on dark matter candidates with such an experiment

Progress of the Cryogenic Dark Matter Search (CDMS) Experiment

We report on progress of the CDMS experiment, which seeks to detect WIMP dark matter through its interactions in a particle detector operated in a low radioactivity environment. We have developed novel cryogenic detectors which discriminate between nuclear recoils from WIMPs and electron recoils from background photons. We describe the experiment and discuss recent progress, including first operation of a cryogenic detector in the low radioactivity cryostat in June of 1996

R.J. Gaitskell, P.D. Barnes, Jr., A. DaSilva, S.R. Golwala, J. Jochum, R.R. Ross, B. Sadoulet, D. Seitz, T. Shutt, G. Smith, W. Stockwell, R. Therrien, S. White

this paper) , and a 100 g Si FLIP detector (which are discussed elsewhere in these (a

Installation of the Cryogenic Dark Matter Search (CDMS)

We discuss the status of a cryogenic dark matter search beginning operation in the Stanford Underground Facility. The detectors will be cooled in a specially designed cryostat connected to a modified side access Oxford 400 dilution refrigerator. We discuss two detector designs and performance, the cryostat construction and operation, and the multi-level shield surrounding the cryostat. Finally, we will examine the limits which we will be able to set on WIMP dark matter with this experiment