Abstract
Using neutrinos as cosmic messengers for observation of non-thermal processes in the Universe is a highly attractive and promising vision, which has been pursued in various neutrino telescope projects for more than two decades. Recent results from ground-based TeV gamma-ray observatories and refinements of model calculations of the expected neutrino fluxes indicate that Gigaton target volumes will be necessary to establish neutrino astronomy. A first neutrino telescope of that size, IceCube, is operational at the South Pole. Based on experience with the smaller first-generation ANTARES telescope in the Mediterranean Sea, the multi-Gigaton KM3NeT device is in preparation. These neutrino telescopes are presented, and some selected results and the expected KM3NeT performance are discussed.
Highlights
Neutrinos are the only known particles that could complement photons as messengers for astronomical observations
Firstgeneration devices, typically covering a percent of a Gigaton of target mass, have been successfully constructed and operated in the deep ice of the South Pole (AMANDA [1]), in the Mediterranean Sea (ANTARES [2, 3]) and in Lake Baikal in Siberia. These experiments have proven the feasibility of neutrino detection in the respective media and have provided a wealth of data, albeit as yet no evidence for cosmic neutrinos
Common to all neutrino telescopes is that they consist of vertical units (“strings”) carrying optical modules, i.e. photomultipliers in pressure-safe glass spheres
Summary
Neutrinos are the only known particles that could complement photons as messengers for astronomical observations. Firstgeneration devices, typically covering a percent of a Gigaton of target mass, have been successfully constructed and operated in the deep ice of the South Pole (AMANDA [1]), in the Mediterranean Sea (ANTARES [2, 3]) and in Lake Baikal in Siberia (see [4] for a review of the historical developments and for further references). These experiments have proven the feasibility of neutrino detection in the respective media and have provided a wealth of data, albeit as yet no evidence for cosmic neutrinos. Many more details and references than given below can be found in [11]
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