Low-Energy Backgrounds in Solid-State Phonon and Charge Detectors

Baxter, Daniel [Fermilab; Northwestern U.] (ORCID:0000000306623535); Essig, Rouven [YITP, Stony Brook] (ORCID:0000000230660486); Hochberg, Yonit [Hebrew U.; Cornell U., LEPP] (ORCID:0000000250452510); Kaznacheeva, Margarita [Munich, Tech. U.] (ORCID:0000000227121326); von Krosigk, Belina [Heidelberg U.; KIT, Karlsruhe, TP] (ORCID:0000000152233023); Reindl, Florian [Vienna, OAW; Vienna, Tech. U., Atominst.] (ORCID:0000000301512174); Romani, Roger K. [UC, Berkeley] (ORCID:0000000295561876); Wagner, Felix [Zurich, ETH; PSI, Villigen] (ORCID:0000000156876392)

doi:10.48550/arxiv.2503.08859

DOE OSTI · 2538615

Low-Energy Backgrounds in Solid-State Phonon and Charge Detectors

Baxter, Daniel [Fermilab; Northwestern U.] (ORCID:0000000306623535)·Essig, Rouven [YITP, Stony Brook] (ORCID:0000000230660486)·Hochberg, Yonit [Hebrew U.; Cornell U., LEPP] (ORCID:0000000250452510)·Kaznacheeva, Margarita [Munich, Tech. U.] (ORCID:0000000227121326)·von Krosigk, Belina [Heidelberg U.; KIT, Karlsruhe, TP] (ORCID:0000000152233023)·Reindl, Florian [Vienna, OAW; Vienna, Tech. U., Atominst.] (ORCID:0000000301512174)·Romani, Roger K. [UC, Berkeley] (ORCID:0000000295561876)·Wagner, Felix [Zurich, ETH; PSI, Villigen] (ORCID:0000000156876392)

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Abstract

Solid-state phonon and charge detectors probe the scattering of weakly interacting particles, such as dark matter and neutrinos, through their low recoil thresholds. Recent advancements have pushed sensitivity to eV-scale energy depositions, uncovering previously-unseen low-energy excess backgrounds. While some arise from known processes such as thermal radiation, luminescence, and stress, others remain unexplained. This review examines these backgrounds, their possible origins, and parallels to low-energy effects in solids. Their understanding is essential for interpreting particle interactions at and below the eV-scale.

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Baxter, Daniel [Fermilab; Northwestern U.] (ORCID:0000000306623535), Essig, Rouven [YITP, Stony Brook] (ORCID:0000000230660486), Hochberg, Yonit [Hebrew U.; Cornell U., LEPP] (ORCID:0000000250452510), Kaznacheeva, Margarita [Munich, Tech. U.] (ORCID:0000000227121326), von Krosigk, Belina [Heidelberg U.; KIT, Karlsruhe, TP] (ORCID:0000000152233023), Reindl, Florian [Vienna, OAW; Vienna, Tech. U., Atominst.] (ORCID:0000000301512174), Romani, Roger K. [UC, Berkeley] (ORCID:0000000295561876), Wagner, Felix [Zurich, ETH; PSI, Villigen] (ORCID:0000000156876392). 2025-06-24. Low-Energy Backgrounds in Solid-State Phonon and Charge Detectors. https://doi.org/10.48550/arxiv.2503.08859

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