Low energy dark matter searches

This paper summarizes the motivations and challenges for direct detection experiments aimed at dark matter particles with masses below the GeV scale. Two such experiments with large Canadian contributions, currently operating or under construction at SNOLAB, are discussed in detail: SuperCDMS, which employs cryogenic semiconductor crystals, and NEWSG, which employs noble gas spherical detectors. Finally, we highlight recent efforts to investigate sharply rising event rates below a few hundred eV, in excess of expectations from existing background models, that have been observed in multiple direct detection experiments.