Muon Detection and Direction Reconstruction with the Upgraded 1-ton Water Cherenkov Prototype Detector at CJPL-I

Abstract

The 1-ton prototype detector for Jinping neutrino experiment (JNE-1ton) has completed its hardware upgrade and has been successfully operated in both water and liquid-scintillator modes at CJPL-I, which is situated under a 2400-m rock overburden. During the upgrade, the detector's mechanical support structure and PMT layout were redesigned. The original Hamamatsu PMTs were replaced with 8-inch MCP-PMTs from North Night Vision, increasing the PMT count from 30 to 60. The detector was then operated in water mode for 85 days (Water-I) and 79 days (Water-II). From the accumulated water-mode data, we derive a muon detection efficiency (Water-II) that is approximately 59% higher than that of the pre-upgrade liquid scintillator detector. The measured muon flux is ${\varphi }_{\text{I+II}}=(3.55\pm 0.43_{\mathrm{stat}}\pm 0.28_{\mathrm{syst}})\times 10^{-10}{\mathrm{cm}}^{-2}{\mathrm{s}}^{-1}$, which is consistent with the previous measurement. Owing to the characteristic angular dependence of Cherenkov radiation and the increased PMT coverage, the uncertainty in muon direction reconstruction is approximately 6${}^{\circ }$, which corresponds to a reduction to 30% of its previous value. Notably, one rare up-going muon event was clearly identified. It is excluded from the cosmic-ray muon flux sample and opens a new window for neutrino-induced event studies in the deepest underground laboratory in China. This work marks the first time that CJPL has employed a cost-effective water detector for muon flux measurement.