Development of Combined Opto-Acoustical Sensor Modules

TL;DR

This paper presents a compact combined opto-acoustical sensor module designed for neutrino telescopes in challenging environments, aiming to simplify detector mechanics and improve long-term reliability.

Contribution

It introduces a novel integrated sensor module combining optical and acoustical sensors, enhancing calibration and potential for multi-purpose applications in neutrino detection and marine science.

Findings

Initial tests show promising calibration results.

Design reduces complexity and external instrumentation.

Further improvements needed for particle detection applications.

Abstract

The faint fluxes of cosmic neutrinos expected at very high energies require large instrumented detector volumes. The necessary volumes in combination with a sufficient shielding against background constitute forbidding and complex environments (e.g. the deep sea) as sites for neutrino telescopes. To withstand these environments and to assure the data quality, the sensors have to be reliable and their operation has to be as simple as possible. A compact sensor module design including all necessary components for data acquisition and module calibration would simplify the detector mechanics and ensures the long term operability of the detector. The compact design discussed here combines optical and acoustical sensors inside one module, therefore reducing electronics and additional external instruments for calibration purposes. In this design the acoustical sensor is primary used for acoustic positioning of the module. The module may also be used for acoustic particle detection and marine science if an appropriate acoustical sensor is chosen. First tests of this design are promising concerning the task of calibration. To expand the field of application also towards acoustic particle detection further improvements concerning electromagnetic shielding and adaptation of the single components are necessary.