Zenith distribution and flux of atmospheric muons measured with the 5-line ANTARES detector

TL;DR

This paper reports measurements of atmospheric muon flux and zenith distribution using the 5-line ANTARES neutrino detector, comparing results with previous data and simulations to understand muon behavior underwater.

Contribution

It provides new measurements of muon flux and angular distribution with the ANTARES detector in a 5-line configuration, including systematic uncertainty analysis.

Findings

Measured zenith distribution of atmospheric muons

Compared flux data with Monte Carlo simulations

Analyzed systematic uncertainties in measurements

Abstract

The ANTARES high energy neutrino telescope is a three-dimensional array of about 900 photomultipliers distributed over 12 mooring lines installed in the Mediterranean Sea. Between February and November 2007 it acquired data in a 5-line configuration. The zenith angular distribution of the atmospheric muon flux and the associated depth-intensity relation are measured and compared with previous measurements and Monte Carlo expectations. An evaluation of the systematic effects due to uncertainties on environmental and detector parameters is presented.