Deep sea tests of a prototype of the KM3NeT digital optical module

Abstract

The first prototype of a photo-detection unit of the future KM3NeT neutrino telescope has been deployed in the deep waters of the Mediterranean Sea. This digital optical module has a novel design with a very large photocathode area segmented by the use of 31 three inch photomultiplier tubes. It has been integrated in the ANTARES detector for in-situ testing and validation. This paper reports on the first months of data taking and rate measurements. The analysis results highlight the capabilities of the new module design in terms of background suppression and signal recognition. The directionality of the optical module enables the recognition of multiple Cherenkov photons from the same ${}^{40}$K decay and the localization bioluminescent activity in the neighbourhood. The single unit can cleanly identify atmospheric muons and provide sensitivity to the muon arrival directions.

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• The KM3NeT potential for the next core-collapse supernova observation with neutrinos
• Dependence of atmospheric muon flux on seawater depth measured with the first KM3NeT detection units
• Nanobeacon: A time calibration device for the KM3NeT neutrino telescope
• Measurement of atmospheric neutrino oscillations with very large volume neutrino telescopes
• The Control Unit of the KM3NeT Data Acquisition System
• A proposed deep sea Neutrino Observatory in the Nanhai
• KM3NeT-ORCA: Oscillation Research with Cosmics in the Abyss
• A new instrument for high statistics measurement of photomultiplier characteristics
• Prospects for combined analyses of hadronic emission from $\gamma$-ray sources in the Milky Way with CTA and KM3NeT
• The Central Logic Board and its auxiliary boards for the optical module of the KM3NeT detector
• Searches for neutrino counterparts of gravitational waves from the LIGO/Virgo third observing run with KM3NeT
• The past and future 20-years endeavor for discovering origins of ultra-high energy cosmic rays -- Rapporteur's summary of cosmic ray indirect --