Characterization of the CRESST detectors by neutron induced nuclear recoils

• Published in: EAS publications series Vol. 36; pp. 315 - 317
• Main Authors: Coppi, C., Ciemniak, C., von Feilitzsch, F., Gütlein, A., Hagn, H., Isaila, C., Jochum, J., Kimmerle, M., Lanfranchi, J.-C., Pfister, S., Potzel, W., Rau, W., Roth, S., Rottler, K., Sailer, C., Scholl, S., Usherov, I., Westphal, W.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: EDP Sciences 2009
• ISSN: 1633-4760; 1638-1963
• DOI: 10.1051/eas/0936045

CRESST is an experiment for the direct detection of dark matter particles via nuclear recoils. The CRESST detectors, based on CaWO4 scintillating crystals, are able to discriminate γ and β background by simultaneously measuring the light and phonon signals produced by particle interactions. The discrimination of the background is possible because of the different light output (Quenching Factor, QF) for nuclear and electron recoils. In this article a measurement is shown, aimed at the determination of the QFs of the different nuclei (O, Ca, W) of the detector crystal at 40–60 mK using an 11 MeV neutron beam produced at the Maier-Leibnitz-Laboratorium in Garching (MLL).