DARWIN: dark matter WIMP search with noble liquids

Abstract: DARWIN (DARk matter WImp search with Noble liquids) is an R&D and design study towards the realization of a multi-ton scale dark matter search facility in Europe, based on the liquid argon and liquid xenon time projection chamber techniques. Approved by ASPERA in late 2009, DARWIN brings together several European and US groups working on the existing ArDM, XENON and WARP experiments with the goal of providing a technical design report for the facility by early 2013. DARWIN will be designed to probe the spin-independent WIMP-nucleon cross section region below 10-47cm^2 and to provide a high-statistics measurement of WIMP interactions in case of a positive detection in the intervening years. After a brief introduction, the DARWIN goals, components, as well as its expected physics reach will be presented.