Dark Matter Reach of the MAJORANA DEMONSTRATOR

Neutrinoless double-beta decay experiments are reducing backgrounds to unprecedented levels, allowing them to expand their physics reach. The M\textsc{ajorana} D\textsc{emonstrator} is currently being built at the 4850 ft level of the Sanford Underground Research Facility (SURF) in Lead, SD. The experiment will utilize multiple p-type point-contact (PPC) germanium detectors constructed from approximately 40 kg of ultra-pure germanium (30 kg enriched) and radiopure components. Because of the large overburdern, low thresholds, and low background of the experiment, the D\textsc{emonstrator} will be well positioned to search for light ($<$10 GeV/c$^2$) WIMPs. To do so, the low energy region ($<$ 20 keV) of the D\textsc{emonstrator} spectrum will need to be well characterized. This talk will discuss backgrounds in this region and the potential dark matter reach of the M\textsc{ajorana} D\textsc{emonstrator}. This work is supported by grants from the DOE Office of Nuclear Physics and the NSF Particle Astrophysics program.