Expansion cone for the 3-inch PMTs of the KM3NeT optical modules

Detection of high-energy neutrinos from distant astrophysical sources will open a new window on the Universe. The detection principle exploits the measurement of Cherenkov light emitted by charged particles resulting from neutrino interactions in the matter containing the telescope. A novel multi-PM...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of instrumentation 2013-03, Vol.8 (3), p.1-19
Main Authors: Adrian-Martinez, S, Ageron, M, Aguilar, JA, Aharonian, F, Aiello, S, Albert, A, Alexandri, M, Ameli, F, Anassontzis, E G, Anghinolfi, M, Anton, G, Anvar, S, Ardid, M, Assis Jesus, A
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Angle of incidence
Astrophysics
Charged particles
Detectors
High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena
Incidence
Instrumentation
Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysic
Modules
Neutrinos
Photocathodes
Physics
Sciences of the Universe
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Summary:Detection of high-energy neutrinos from distant astrophysical sources will open a new window on the Universe. The detection principle exploits the measurement of Cherenkov light emitted by charged particles resulting from neutrino interactions in the matter containing the telescope. A novel multi-PMT digital optical module (DOM) was developed to contain 31 3-inch photomultiplier tubes (PMTs). In order to maximize the detector sensitivity, each PMT will be surrounded by an expansion cone which collects photons that would otherwise miss the photocathode. Results for various angles of incidence with respect to the PMT surface indicate an increase in collection efficiency by 30% on average for angles up to 45 degree with respect to the perpendicular. Ray-tracing calculations could reproduce the measurements, allowing to estimate an increase in the overall photocathode sensitivity, integrated over all angles of incidence, by 27% (for a single PMT). Prototype DOMs, being built by the KM3NeT consortium, will be equipped with these expansion cones.
ISSN:1748-0221
1748-0221
DOI:10.1088/1748-0221/8/03/T03006