Speaker
Description
CRESST (Cryogenic Rare Event Search with Superconducting Thermometers) and COSINUS (Cryogenic Observatory for SIgnatures seen in Next-generation Underground Searches) are cryogenic dark matter experiments operated at the Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso (LNGS) in Italy. Both aim to detect dark matter–nucleus interactions using scintillating calorimeters equipped with transition edge sensors (TESs) to measure phonon signals at millikelvin temperatures, complemented by the detection of scintillation light for efficient background discrimination.
CRESST continues its effort to further lower the energy threshold, a task made increasingly challenging by a low-energy excess—an exponential background whose origin remains unknown. COSINUS is preparing to begin data taking this year, aiming to address the long-standing question of whether the signal observed by the DAMA/LIBRA collaboration could have a dark matter origin.
This talk will present an overview of both experiments, the latest results since the last meeting, and future goals.