Improving the sensitivity of a new multi-photomultiplier optical module for the KM3NeT detector

Arbeider, J.H. (2011) Improving the sensitivity of a new multi-photomultiplier optical module for the KM3NeT detector. Bachelor's Thesis, Physics.

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Abstract

KM3NeT is a future cubic-kilometre scale neutrino telescope that will be built at the bottom of the Mediterranean Sea at a depth of several kilometres. Detection of high-energy neutrinos from distant astrophysical sources or from annihilation of dark matter particles will change the way we look at our universe. The detection principle is based on the measurement of Cherenkov light emitted by charged particles resulting from neutrino interactions in the matter surrounding the telescope. The KM3NeT detection units will be instrumented with multiphototube optical modules containing many 3-inch phototubes. Using many small phototubes instead of one large phototube gives several advantages. The segmentation of the detection area in the optical module will aid in distinguishing single-photon from multi-photon hits. Moreover, two-photon hits can be unambiguously recognized if the two photons hit separate tubes. The multi-phototube optical modules can look into all directions, which helps to better distinguish between atmospheric particles and particles created by neutrinos. The loss of one phototube will only have minimal effect on the performance of the optical module. Small phototubes can offer a quantum efficiency above 30% and provide a small transit time spread. In order to maximize the detector sensitivity, each phototube in the multi-phototube optical modules will be surrounded by a reflector cone designed to collect photons that would otherwise miss the photocathode, thus effectively increasing the photosensitive area. This work was dedicated for studies of the performance of such a reflector, showing an increase of the effective photosensitive radius by about 8 mm.

Item Type:	Thesis (Bachelor's Thesis)
Degree programme:	Physics
Thesis type:	Bachelor's Thesis
Language:	English
Date Deposited:	15 Feb 2018 07:50
Last Modified:	15 Feb 2018 07:50
URI:	https://fse.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/10529

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