The LUX Experiment - Background Model and Physics Goals

The LUX experiment takes advantage of the self-shielding capabilities of liquid xenon to create a nearly background-free fiducial volume. This will allow for unambiguous detection of WIMP-like nuclear recoils. LUX has been designed with the goal of $<$10$^{-3}$~event/keV/kg/day, corresponding to $<$1~background event in 300~livedays, and a virtually background-free month-long initial science run. The ultimate 90\% exclusion WIMP limit of the experiment after a 30000~kg~day run is projected to reach 7$\times$10$^{-46}$~cm$^2$ for a WIMP mass of 100~GeV. This talk will discuss recent results from the LUX underground xenon gas run and background projections from the LUX material screening program.