Cryogenic detector development for direct dark matter search

A fundamental question of 'dark matter' is the existence of weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs). Cryogenic detectors are especially suited for a direct detection of WIMPs. The recoil energy transferred to a nucleus by elastic scattering of a WIMP is mainly converted into phonons, which are measured by the thermometer of the cryogenic detector. Low temperature calorimetric detectors with large mass, low energy threshold and high energy resolution have been developed. A first experiment with a 1 kg detector, made from sapphire and with an energy threshold of 500 eV for nuclear recoils is in preparation. The range of sensitivity and the realisation of such an experiment are discussed. (author). 12 refs., 4 figs