The operation of large-mass room-temperature superheated droplet detectors

Large-volume room-temperature superheated droplet detectors are being constructed for measuring very weakly interacting radiation fields, such as those produced by cold dark matter particles (CDM particles, or weakly interacting massive particles: WIMPS). Large mass droplet detectors are modular, their sensitivity is strongly operation temperature and pressure dependent. Their operation necessitates therefore measurements and control functions which are unique to this particular detection medium. We present the detectors developed for the PICASSO project: fabrication, signal production and analysis, acoustic noise identification and rejection. Other types of applications of such detectors are also being investigated.