Prospects for a direct dark matter search using high resistivity CCD detectors

J. Estrada, H. Cease, H. T. Diehl, B. Flaugher, J. Jones, D. Kubik, A. Sonnenschein

Published 2008-02-20, updated 2008-07-01Version 3

The possibility of using CCD detectors in a low threshold direct detection dark matter search experiment is discussed. We present the main features of the DECam detectors that make them a good alternative for such an experiment, namely their low noise and their large depleted volume. The performance of the DECam CCDs for the detection of nuclear recoils is discussed, and a measurement of the ionization efficiency for these events is presented. Finally the plans and expected reach for the CCD Experiment at Low Background (CELB) are discussed.