Dark matter search with cryogenic detectors: contributions to CDMS and SuperCDMS

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Overwhelming observational evidence tells us, that what we see in the Universe is only a small fraction of the existing matter. Most of the matter is not only invisible, but of a completely new type. The search for this "Dark Matter" is one of the most fascinating and challenging experimental efforts pursued in present day fundamental physics research.     Dark Matter particles are expected to only very rarely interact with ordinary matter. Therefore the influence of other interacting particle (cosmic radiation, natural radioactivity) has to be reduced as much as possible when searching for these particles. CDMS (Cryogenic Dark Matter Search) which is presently world-leading in this field  operates very sensitive low temperature (cryogenic) detectors deep underground to reduce the influence of cosmic radiation, and inside a heavy shielding against trace radioactivity in the surroundings. The complex detectors are capable of distinguishing between the expected interactions from the Dark Matter particles and interactions from known particles which despite all the effort manage to penetrate the shielding.     CDMS is planning to move for the next phase ("SuperCDMS") to the newly built SNOLAB near Sudbury, Ontario, which provides better shielding against cosmic radiation and a cleaner (with respect to radioactive trace contaminations) environment than the present location of the CDMS experiment     This project contributes to the CDMS experiment by setting up and running a facility which will provide the low temperatures and all electronics necessary to operate the complex CDMS detectors. This facility will be used to test and characterize the detectors that are presently being developed for the next phase of the experiment, before they are deployed in the final setup. The close connection between Queen's University and SNOLAB will greatly benefit the installation of the experiment at the new site. This project allows a significant Canadian contribution to a world-leading experiment in cutting edge fundamental research.