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.

References in corpus (3)

• Time Calibration of the ANTARES Neutrino Telescope
• Are Diffuse High Energy Neutrinos and Gamma-Rays from Starburst Galaxies Observable?
• A parameterisation of single and multiple muons in the deep water or ice

Cited by in corpus (5)

• A proposed deep sea Neutrino Observatory in the Nanhai
• The Central Logic Board and its auxiliary boards for the optical module of the KM3NeT detector
• Prospects for combined analyses of hadronic emission from $\gamma$-ray sources in the Milky Way with CTA and KM3NeT
• 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 --