Speaker
Description
QROCODILE (Quantum Resolution-Optimized Cryogenic Observatory for Dark matter Incident at Low Energy) is a direct dark matter detection experiment based on superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors (SNSPDs) operated at cryogenic temperatures. By exploiting the exceptionally low energy threshold of these devices, QROCODILE is sensitive to dark matter interactions producing energy deposits at the sub-eV scale, opening access to dark matter masses well below the range of WIMP searches. Here, we present the detector concept, current experimental status, and recent developments of the QROCODILE experiment at the University of Zurich. We also discuss the performance achieved so far and the features of detectors based on SNSPD for probing unexplored regions of low-mass dark matter parameter space.