Probing dark matter interactions with a RES–NOVA prototype cryogenic detector

Abstract We report on the operation of a 13 g PbWO $$_4$$ 4 crystal, grown from archaeological Pb and operated as a cryogenic calorimeter in an underground environment. Read out with a Ge thermistor, the detector achieves a low energy threshold and, for the first time, enables the derivation of a dark matter exclusion limit using PbWO $$_4$$ 4 as target material, for both spin-dependent interactions on neutrons and spin-independent interactions. Although limited in mass and not representative of the final RES–NOVA detector design, this prototype demonstrates effective control of mechanical vibrations and low-energy noise in a cryogenic system, which is a key requirement for rare-event searches. The experiment therefore provides a proof of principle for the RES–NOVA detection concept, validating the use of archaeological Pb-based PbWO $$_4$$ 4 crystals, low-background operation, and robust data-analysis procedures. These results establish a solid technological and methodological foundation for future RES–NOVA detectors employing larger target masses and advanced thermal readout technologies.

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Publication Details

Journal
The European Physical Journal C
Published
2026-09-28
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1140/epjc/s10052-026-16215-9
Primary Topic
Dark Matter and Cosmic Phenomena
Type
article
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0.00

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article

Probing dark matter interactions with a RES–NOVA prototype cryogenic detector

R. Rossini, Alessandro Menegolli, A. Salvini, S. Quitadamo et al.
The European Physical Journal C
Dark Matter and Cosmic Phenomena
article

Probing dark matter interactions with a RES–NOVA prototype cryogenic detector

R. Rossini, Alessandro Menegolli, A. Salvini, S. Quitadamo, Stefano Ghislandi, S. Pirro, G Benato, M. Rossella, Yuan Hb, Maya Musa, Stefano De Nisi, S. Pozzi, M. Clemenza, D. L. Helis, A Giachero, C. De Vecchi, M. Ricci, L. Pattavina, F. A. Danevich, A Melchiorre, A. Puiu, V. I. Tretyak, I Dafinei, L. Gironi, F. Ferroni, M. Consonni, L. Chen, N. Ferreiro Iachellini, M. Cataldo, D. Di Martino, D. Alloni, E. Di Stefano, L. Trombetta, F. Saliu, E. Sala, V. Kobychev, L. Pagnanini, D. V. Kasperovych, G. Marcucci, M. C. Prata, D. Trotta, M. P. Riccardi, P. Carniti, G. Croci, F. Filippini, G. Pessina, Claudio Gotti
article en

Abstract

Abstract We report on the operation of a 13 g PbWO $$_4$$ 4 crystal, grown from archaeological Pb and operated as a cryogenic calorimeter in an underground environment. Read out with a Ge thermistor, the detector achieves a low energy threshold and, for the first time, enables the derivation of a dark matter exclusion limit using PbWO $$_4$$ 4 as target material, for both spin-dependent interactions on neutrons and spin-independent interactions. Although limited in mass and not representative of the final RES–NOVA detector design, this prototype demonstrates effective control of mechanical vibrations and low-energy noise in a cryogenic system, which is a key requirement for rare-event searches. The experiment therefore provides a proof of principle for the RES–NOVA detection concept, validating the use of archaeological Pb-based PbWO $$_4$$ 4 crystals, low-background operation, and robust data-analysis procedures. These results establish a solid technological and methodological foundation for future RES–NOVA detectors employing larger target masses and advanced thermal readout technologies.

The European Physical Journal CVol. 86(9)
Chinese Academy of Sciences (CN), University of Pavia (IT), University of L'Aquila (IT), Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso (IT), Institute for Basic Science (KR), Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di Pavia (IT), Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di Milano Bicocca (IT), Institute for Nuclear Research (UA), Gran Sasso Science Institute (IT), Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di Roma I (IT), Shanghai Institute of Ceramics (CN), Czech Technical University in Prague (CZ), Massachusetts Institute of Technology (US), University of Milano-Bicocca (IT)
U.S. Department of Energy, European Commission, Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca, Gran Sasso Science Institute, Ministero dell'Università e della Ricerca, HORIZON EUROPE Framework Programme, European Research Council, Basic Energy Sciences, Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso
Openalex Percentile: Top 91%
Dark Matter and Cosmic Phenomena
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