Search

Coherent elastic neutrino-nucleus scattering (CEνNS) offers a unique way to study neutrino properties and to search for new physics beyond the Standard Model. The NUCLEUS experiment aims to measure CEνNS of reactor anti-neutrinos down to unprecedented low nuclear recoil energies. The novel gram-scale cryogenic detectors feature an ultra-low energy threshold of ≤20eVnr and a rise time of a few 100 μs which allows the operation above ground. The fiducialization of the detectors provides an effective discrimination of ambient γ- and surface backgrounds. Furthermore, the use of multiple targets promises a high physics potential. The NUCLEUS experiment will be located at a new experimental site at the Chooz nuclear power plant in France, providing a high anti-neutrino flux of 1.7 ⋅ 10 12 ν ¯ e / ( s ⋅ cm 2 ) . The commissioning of the experimental setup with a comprehensive background measurement is planned for 2022.

The EDELWEISS collaboration is performing direct searches for light Dark Matter particles using cryogenic germanium detectors equipped with a charge and thermal signal readout. This versatile and highly performing technology opens new possibilities for searches for signals involving either electrons or nuclear recoils. This is attested to by results on Axion- Like Particles in the keV range, and by the attainment of the first sub-GeV spin-independent dark matter limit based on a germanium target. The search has been extended to Strongly Interacting Particles (SIMP) down to 45 MeV by exploiting the Migdal effect. New results on SIMPs with spin-dependent interactions will also be presented.