A Search for Dark Matter Using Cryogenic Detectors (cdms)

The Cryogenic Dark Matter Search experiment uses germanium and silicon detectors cooled to cryogenic temperatures in a direct search for weakly-interacting massive particles in our Galaxy. The novel detectors allow a high degree of background rejection by discriminating between electron and nuclear recoils through the simultaneous measurement of the energy deposited in phonons (heat) and ionization. Exposures of a few kilogram-days from initial runs of our experiment yield (preliminary) upper limits on the WIMP-nucleon cross section that are comparable to much longer runs of other experiments. Current and future data promise significant improvement, primarily due to improved detectors and reduced backgrounds from surface radioactivity.