Direct Dark Matter Search with the CRESST-II Experiment

Abstract

The quest for the particle nature of dark matter is one of the big open questions of modern physics. The CRESST-II experiment, located at the Gran Sasso laboratory in Italy, is optimised for the detection of the elastic scattering of dark matter particles with ordinary matter. We present the result obtained with an improved detector setup with increased radiopurity and enhanced background rejection. The limit obtained in the so-called low mass region between one and three GeV/c2 is at the present among the best limits obtained for direct dark matter experiments. In addition we give an outlook of the future potential for direct dark matter detection using further improved CRESST CaWO4 cryogenic detectors.