The CRESST experiment towards the next generation of sub GeV direct dark matter detection

G. Angloher; S. Banik; A. Bento; A. Bertolini; R. Breier; C. Bucci; J. Burkhart; L. Canonica; F. Casadei; E. R. Cipelli; S. Di Lorenzo; J. Dohm; F. Dominsky; L. Einfalt; A. Erb; E. Fascione; F. V. Feilitzsch; S. Fichtinger; D. Fuchs; V. M. Ghete; P. Gorla; P. V. Guillaumon; D. Hauff; M. Ješkovský; J. Jochum; M. Kaznacheeva; H. Kluck; H. Kraus; B. V. Krosigk; A. Langenkämper; M. Mancuso; B. Mauri; V. Mokina; C. Moore; P. Murali; M. Olmi; T. Ortmann; C. Pagliarone; L. Pattavina; F. Petricca; W. Potzel; P. Povinec; F. Pröbst; F. Pucci; F. Reindl; J. Rothe; K. Schäffner; J. Schieck; S. Schönert; C. Schwertner; M. Stahlberg; L. Stodolsky; C. Strandhagen; R. Strauss; I. Usherov; D. Valdenaire; M. Zanirato; V. Zema

doi:10.1038/s42005-025-02476-5

The CRESST experiment towards the next generation of sub GeV direct dark matter detection

G. Angloher
, S. Banik
, A. Bento
, A. Bertolini
, R. Breier
, C. Bucci
, J. Burkhart
, L. Canonica
, F. Casadei
, E. R. Cipelli
, S. Di Lorenzo
, J. Dohm
, F. Dominsky
, L. Einfalt
, A. Erb
, E. Fascione
, F. V. Feilitzsch
, S. Fichtinger
, D. Fuchs
, V. M. Ghete

P. Gorla, P. V. Guillaumon, D. Hauff, M. Ješkovský, J. Jochum, M. Kaznacheeva, H. Kluck, H. Kraus, B. V. Krosigk, A. Langenkämper, M. Mancuso, B. Mauri, V. Mokina, C. Moore, P. Murali, M. Olmi, T. Ortmann, C. Pagliarone, L. Pattavina, F. Petricca, W. Potzel, P. Povinec, F. Pröbst, F. Pucci, F. Reindl, J. Rothe, K. Schäffner, J. Schieck, S. Schönert, C. Schwertner, M. Stahlberg, L. Stodolsky, C. Strandhagen, R. Strauss, I. Usherov, D. Valdenaire, M. Zanirato, V. Zema

Chair of Experimental Astroparticle Physics

Max-Planck-Institut für Physik
Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences
Technische Universität Wien
Coimbra University Pó lo II
Heidelberg University
Comenius University
Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso
Universit̀ Degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca
University of Tübingen
School of Physics
ARC Centre of Excellence for Dark Matter Particle Physics
Technical University of Munich
Walther-Meissner-Institut
University of São Paulo
University of Oxford
Humanoid Technologies Lab (H2T)
Università di Cassino

Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review

Abstract

Direct detection experiments have established the most stringent constraints on potential interactions between particle candidates for relic, thermal dark matter and Standard Model particles. To surpass current exclusion limits a new generation of experiments is being developed. The upcoming upgrade of the CRESST experiment will incorporate O(100) detectors with different masses ranging from ~2 g to ~24 g, aiming to achieve unprecedented sensitivity to sub-GeV dark matter particles with a focus on spin-independent dark matter-nucleus scattering. This paper presents a comprehensive analysis of the planned upgrade, detailed experimental strategies, anticipated challenges, and projected sensitivities. Approaches to address and mitigate low-energy excess backgrounds – a key limitation in previous and current sub-GeV dark matter searches – are also discussed. In addition, a long-term roadmap for the next decade is outlined, including other potential scientific applications.

Original language	English
Article number	163
Journal	Communications Physics
Volume	9
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/s42005-025-02476-5
State	Published - Dec 2026

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Angloher, G., Banik, S., Bento, A., Bertolini, A., Breier, R., Bucci, C., Burkhart, J., Canonica, L., Casadei, F., Cipelli, E. R., Di Lorenzo, S., Dohm, J., Dominsky, F., Einfalt, L., Erb, A., Fascione, E., Feilitzsch, F. V., Fichtinger, S., Fuchs, D., ... Zema, V. (2026). The CRESST experiment towards the next generation of sub GeV direct dark matter detection. Communications Physics, 9(1), Article 163. https://doi.org/10.1038/s42005-025-02476-5

@article{458fc0ea258f44cd8efb73a961d0f46c,

title = "The CRESST experiment towards the next generation of sub GeV direct dark matter detection",

abstract = "Direct detection experiments have established the most stringent constraints on potential interactions between particle candidates for relic, thermal dark matter and Standard Model particles. To surpass current exclusion limits a new generation of experiments is being developed. The upcoming upgrade of the CRESST experiment will incorporate O(100) detectors with different masses ranging from \textasciitilde{}2 g to \textasciitilde{}24 g, aiming to achieve unprecedented sensitivity to sub-GeV dark matter particles with a focus on spin-independent dark matter-nucleus scattering. This paper presents a comprehensive analysis of the planned upgrade, detailed experimental strategies, anticipated challenges, and projected sensitivities. Approaches to address and mitigate low-energy excess backgrounds – a key limitation in previous and current sub-GeV dark matter searches – are also discussed. In addition, a long-term roadmap for the next decade is outlined, including other potential scientific applications.",

author = "G. Angloher and S. Banik and A. Bento and A. Bertolini and R. Breier and C. Bucci and J. Burkhart and L. Canonica and F. Casadei and Cipelli, \{E. R.\} and \{Di Lorenzo\}, S. and J. Dohm and F. Dominsky and L. Einfalt and A. Erb and E. Fascione and Feilitzsch, \{F. V.\} and S. Fichtinger and D. Fuchs and Ghete, \{V. M.\} and P. Gorla and Guillaumon, \{P. V.\} and D. Hauff and M. Je{\v s}kovsk{\'y} and J. Jochum and M. Kaznacheeva and H. Kluck and H. Kraus and Krosigk, \{B. V.\} and A. Langenk{\"a}mper and M. Mancuso and B. Mauri and V. Mokina and C. Moore and P. Murali and M. Olmi and T. Ortmann and C. Pagliarone and L. Pattavina and F. Petricca and W. Potzel and P. Povinec and F. Pr{\"o}bst and F. Pucci and F. Reindl and J. Rothe and K. Sch{\"a}ffner and J. Schieck and S. Sch{\"o}nert and C. Schwertner and M. Stahlberg and L. Stodolsky and C. Strandhagen and R. Strauss and I. Usherov and D. Valdenaire and M. Zanirato and V. Zema",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} The Author(s) 2026.",

year = "2026",

month = dec,

doi = "10.1038/s42005-025-02476-5",

language = "English",

volume = "9",

journal = "Communications Physics",

issn = "2399-3650",

publisher = "Springer Nature",

number = "1",

}

Angloher, G, Banik, S, Bento, A, Bertolini, A, Breier, R, Bucci, C, Burkhart, J, Canonica, L, Casadei, F, Cipelli, ER, Di Lorenzo, S, Dohm, J, Dominsky, F, Einfalt, L, Erb, A, Fascione, E, Feilitzsch, FV, Fichtinger, S, Fuchs, D, Ghete, VM, Gorla, P, Guillaumon, PV, Hauff, D, Ješkovský, M, Jochum, J, Kaznacheeva, M, Kluck, H, Kraus, H, Krosigk, BV, Langenkämper, A, Mancuso, M, Mauri, B, Mokina, V, Moore, C, Murali, P, Olmi, M, Ortmann, T, Pagliarone, C, Pattavina, L, Petricca, F, Potzel, W, Povinec, P, Pröbst, F, Pucci, F, Reindl, F, Rothe, J, Schäffner, K, Schieck, J, Schönert, S, Schwertner, C, Stahlberg, M, Stodolsky, L, Strandhagen, C, Strauss, R, Usherov, I, Valdenaire, D, Zanirato, M & Zema, V 2026, 'The CRESST experiment towards the next generation of sub GeV direct dark matter detection', Communications Physics, vol. 9, no. 1, 163. https://doi.org/10.1038/s42005-025-02476-5

TY - JOUR

T1 - The CRESST experiment towards the next generation of sub GeV direct dark matter detection

AU - Angloher, G.

AU - Banik, S.

AU - Bento, A.

AU - Bertolini, A.

AU - Breier, R.

AU - Bucci, C.

AU - Burkhart, J.

AU - Canonica, L.

AU - Casadei, F.

AU - Cipelli, E. R.

AU - Di Lorenzo, S.

AU - Dohm, J.

AU - Dominsky, F.

AU - Einfalt, L.

AU - Erb, A.

AU - Fascione, E.

AU - Feilitzsch, F. V.

AU - Fichtinger, S.

AU - Fuchs, D.

AU - Ghete, V. M.

AU - Gorla, P.

AU - Guillaumon, P. V.

AU - Hauff, D.

AU - Ješkovský, M.

AU - Jochum, J.

AU - Kaznacheeva, M.

AU - Kluck, H.

AU - Kraus, H.

AU - Krosigk, B. V.

AU - Langenkämper, A.

AU - Mancuso, M.

AU - Mauri, B.

AU - Mokina, V.

AU - Moore, C.

AU - Murali, P.

AU - Olmi, M.

AU - Ortmann, T.

AU - Pagliarone, C.

AU - Pattavina, L.

AU - Petricca, F.

AU - Potzel, W.

AU - Povinec, P.

AU - Pröbst, F.

AU - Pucci, F.

AU - Reindl, F.

AU - Rothe, J.

AU - Schäffner, K.

AU - Schieck, J.

AU - Schönert, S.

AU - Schwertner, C.

AU - Stahlberg, M.

AU - Stodolsky, L.

AU - Strandhagen, C.

AU - Strauss, R.

AU - Usherov, I.

AU - Valdenaire, D.

AU - Zanirato, M.

AU - Zema, V.

PY - 2026/12

Y1 - 2026/12

N2 - Direct detection experiments have established the most stringent constraints on potential interactions between particle candidates for relic, thermal dark matter and Standard Model particles. To surpass current exclusion limits a new generation of experiments is being developed. The upcoming upgrade of the CRESST experiment will incorporate O(100) detectors with different masses ranging from ~2 g to ~24 g, aiming to achieve unprecedented sensitivity to sub-GeV dark matter particles with a focus on spin-independent dark matter-nucleus scattering. This paper presents a comprehensive analysis of the planned upgrade, detailed experimental strategies, anticipated challenges, and projected sensitivities. Approaches to address and mitigate low-energy excess backgrounds – a key limitation in previous and current sub-GeV dark matter searches – are also discussed. In addition, a long-term roadmap for the next decade is outlined, including other potential scientific applications.

AB - Direct detection experiments have established the most stringent constraints on potential interactions between particle candidates for relic, thermal dark matter and Standard Model particles. To surpass current exclusion limits a new generation of experiments is being developed. The upcoming upgrade of the CRESST experiment will incorporate O(100) detectors with different masses ranging from ~2 g to ~24 g, aiming to achieve unprecedented sensitivity to sub-GeV dark matter particles with a focus on spin-independent dark matter-nucleus scattering. This paper presents a comprehensive analysis of the planned upgrade, detailed experimental strategies, anticipated challenges, and projected sensitivities. Approaches to address and mitigate low-energy excess backgrounds – a key limitation in previous and current sub-GeV dark matter searches – are also discussed. In addition, a long-term roadmap for the next decade is outlined, including other potential scientific applications.

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105039452425

U2 - 10.1038/s42005-025-02476-5

DO - 10.1038/s42005-025-02476-5

M3 - Review article

AN - SCOPUS:105039452425

SN - 2399-3650

VL - 9

JO - Communications Physics

JF - Communications Physics

IS - 1

M1 - 163

ER -

The CRESST experiment towards the next generation of sub GeV direct dark matter detection

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