Exploring Experimental Aspects Of CUORE And CUPID Cryogenic Detectors In The Search For Neutrinoless Double Beta Decay

The Cryogenic Underground Observatory for Rare Events (CUORE) is an experiment that has multiple purposes including the detection of neutrinoless double beta decay ($0\nu\beta\beta$). The apparatus contains an array of 988 tellurium-dioxide (TeO$_2$) crystals. The Tellurium-130 in these crystals theoretically exhibits this forbidden nuclear decay. Detection of $0\nu\beta\beta$ would indicate that the neutrino is its own anti-particle and thus allow for a better understanding of its mass, informing why we live in a matter-dominated universe. The CUPID collaboration is currently upgrading already existing low-energy detection methods used in CUORE. In particular, $^{100}$Mo-enriched crystals have been chosen as bolometers for their ability to scintillate allowing for discrimination of beta-gamma particles and alpha particles. The CUPID Collaboration is now in an R\&D phase with the objective of determining exactly which type of $^{100}$Mo crystal to use in its Crystal Verification Run (CCVR) campaign. Additional R\&D is being conducted on a new tower design named Vertical Slice Test Tower (VSTT). All current research is taking place at Laboratorio Nazionale del Gran Sasso and is being conducted at milli-kelvin temperatures using dilution unit cryostats.