CUPID-0: the first array of enriched scintillating bolometers for 0$$\nu \beta \beta $$ νββ decay investigations

Abstract The CUPID-0 detector hosted at the Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso, Italy, is the first large array of enriched scintillating cryogenic detectors for the investigation of $$^{82}$$ 82 Se neutrinoless double-beta decay ($$0\nu \beta \beta $$ 0νββ ). CUPID-0 aims at measuring a background index in the region of interest (RoI) for $$0\nu \beta \beta $$ 0νββ at the level of 10$$^{-3}$$ -3 counts/(keV kg years), the lowest value ever measured using cryogenic detectors. CUPID-0 operates an array of Zn$$^{82}$$ 82 Se scintillating bolometers coupled with bolometric light detectors, with a state of the art technology for background suppression and thorough protocols and procedures for the detector preparation and construction. In this paper, the different phases of the detector design and construction will be presented, from the material selection (for the absorber production) to the new and innovative detector structure. The successful construction of the detector lead to promising preliminary detector performance which is discussed here.