High-energy reconstruction for single and double cascades using the KM3NeT detector

TL;DR

This paper improves the reconstruction of high-energy neutrino events in the KM3NeT detector, enhancing angular resolution and identifying tau neutrino signatures using detailed event modeling and hit time information.

Contribution

It introduces a refined cascade reconstruction method that incorporates detailed event modeling and hit timing to improve angular resolution and tau neutrino identification.

Findings

Achieves sub-degree angular resolution for cascade events.

Enhances identification of double cascade signatures from tau neutrinos.

Refines neutrino event modeling for better reconstruction accuracy.

Abstract

The discovery of a high-energy cosmic neutrino flux has paved the way for the field of neutrino astronomy. For a large part of the flux, the sources remain unidentified. The KM3NeT detector, which is under construction in the Mediterranean sea, is designed to determine their origin. KM3NeT will instrument a cubic kilometre of seawater with photomultiplier tubes that detect Cherenkov radiation from neutrino interaction products with nanosecond precision. For single cascade event signatures, KM3NeT already showed that it can reach degree-level resolutions, greatly increasing the use of these neutrinos for astronomy. In this contribution, we further refine the cascade reconstruction by making a more detailed model of the neutrinos events and including additional information on the hit times. The arrival time of light can be used to improve the identification of double cascade signatures from tau neutrinos, and the angular resolution of both single and double cascade signatures. Sub-degree resolution is achieved in both cases.