Cryogenic Composite Detectors for the Dark Matter Experiments CRESST and EURECA: A Thermal Detector Model

Abstract

To detect WIMP (Weakly Interacting Massive Particle)-nucleon scattering events and thus validate the dark matter hypothesis, the CRESST (Cryogenic Rare Event Search with Superconducting Thermometers) and the future EURECA (European Underground Rare Event Calorimeter Array) experiments use modularized cryogenic detectors operated at mK temperatures. We present an attempt to realize so-called composite detectors for this purpose. A detailed thermal detector model to investigate the composite detector design concerning signal evolution and detector performance is described.