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MON: Monday Contributed Sessions

MON 10: Standard Model and Beyond

MON 10.8: Talk

Monday, September 8, 2025, 16:00–16:15, ZHG103

Mitigating the low-energy excess in cryogenic detectors for low-mass dark matter searches: Advances from the CRESST experiment — •Anna Bertolini — Kirchhoff-Institute for Physics, Heidelberg University, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany

The low-energy excess (LEE) observed in cryogenic detectors, characterized by a steeply increasing event rate below 200 eV, poses a significant challenge to dark matter searches, particularly at low masses. The CRESST experiment has pioneered efforts to understand and mitigate this phenomenon through extensive studies of detector response, novel module designs, and innovative analysis frameworks. Recent observations highlight the time-dependent decay of the LEE rate, offering a practical mitigation strategy through long-term stable cryogenic operation. Coupled with advancements in detector technology, such as DoubleTES sensors and Mini-Beaker modules, these efforts enable a tenfold reduction in the LEE rate, significantly enhancing sensitivity to dark matter interactions. This presentation will detail the latest insights and results of the CRESST Experiment, emphasizing the critical role of detector design in pushing the boundaries of cryogenic detector performance.

Keywords: CRESST Collaboration; Transition-Edge-Sensors; Low-Energy-Excess; Dark Matter; Solid state detectors