The SWEET Project: Probing Sugar Crystals for Direct Dark Matter Searches

IEEE Transactions on Applied Superconductivity 2026 Open access

Read full text
Authors: A. Bento, F. Casadei, E. Cipelli, S. Di Lorenzo, F. Dominsky, P.V. Guillaumon, Dieter Hauff, A. Langenkämper, Michele Mancuso, B. Mauri, C. Moore, F. Petricca
+2 more F. Pröbst, M. Zanirato
DOI: 10.1109/tasc.2026.3665430
Cited by: 0
References: 23

Abstract

Several experiments are currently competing to directly detect sub-GeV/c2dark matter through elastic scattering off various target nuclei. Hydrogen-rich materials, such as organic compounds, are promising candidate targets for such experiments due to favourable kinematics. In this paper, we present for the first time results ob tained with a sugar-based cryogenic particle detector. A sucrose (C12H22O11) monocrystal was instrumented with a neutron transmutation doped germanium thermistor to detect phonons from particle interactions, and was operated in the vicinity of a light detector. Particle interactions in the sugar were observed with associated scintillation light, indicating a possible channel for particle discrimination.

Fields of Study & Subjects

Dark Matter and Cosmic Phenomena Particle Detector Development and Performance Neutrino Physics Research

Publication details

Journal / source
IEEE Transactions on Applied Superconductivity
Volume
36
Issue
6
Pages
1–4
Publication date
16 February 2026
Language
EN