Particle Physics in Birmingham

Particle Physics Seminar

Wednesday 2nd May 2012 at 1:30pm
Poynting Small Lecture Theatre

(tea, coffee and biscuits served at 1:15pm)

The EDELWEISS Dark Matter Search: Latest Results and Future Plans

Sam Henry (Oxford University)


Abstract

Dark matter experiments have now reached the sensitivity required to search for neutralino WIMPs. Cryogenic detectors are the ideal instruments for this, as by operating at millikelvin temperature they can achieve an excellent sensitivity, resolution, energy threshold and background discrimination. I will discuss the latest results from EDELWEISS II, from data taken with an array of ten 400g germanium detectors with interleaved electrodes; and the results of a joint CDMS-EDELWEISS analysis. The next phase of the experiment - EDELWEISS III is now building up a 40kg array of improved FID detectors, and aims to reach a limit of 5\ufffd10^-9 pb. This will be followed by EURECA, a Europe wide collaboration aiming to build a tonne scale dark matter experiment to reach even further.