A.D. Avrorin

The BAIKAL neutrino experiment—Physics results and perspectives

We review the status of the Lake Baikal Neutrino Experiment. The Neutrino Telescope NT200 has been operating since 1998 and has been upgraded to the 10 Mton detector NT200+ in 2005. We present selected astroparticle physics results from long-term operation of NT200. Also discussed are activities towards acoustic detection of UHE-energy neutrinos, and results of associated science activities. Preparation towards a km3-scale (Gigaton volume) detector in Lake Baikal is currently a central activity. As an important milestone, a km3-prototype string, based on completely new technology, has been installed and is operating together with NT200+ since April, 2008.

The prototyping/early construction phase of the BAIKAL-GVD project

Abstract The prototyping phase of the BAIKAL-GVD project has been started in April 2011 with the deployment of a three string engineering array which comprises all basic elements and systems of the Gigaton Volume Detector (GVD) in Lake Baikal. In April 2012 the version of engineering array which comprises the first full-scale string of the GVD demonstration cluster had been deployed and operated during 2012. The first stage of the GVD-cluster which consists of three strings was deployed in April 2013. We review the prototyping phase of the BAIKAL-GVD project and describe the configuration and design of the 2013 engineering array.

Sensitivity of the Baikal-GVD neutrino telescope to neutrino emission toward the center of the galactic dark matter halo

We analyze sensitivity of the gigaton volume telescope Baikal-GVD for detection of neutrino signal from dark matter annihilations or decays in the Galactic Center. Expected bounds on dark matter annihilation cross section and its lifetime are found for several annihilation/decay channels.

Status and recent results of the BAIKAL-GVD project

The Prototyping phase of the BAIKAL-GVD project has been started in April 2011 with the deployment of first autonomous engineering array which comprises all basic elements and systems of the Gigaton Volume Detector (GVD) in Lake Baikal. The prototyping phase will be concluded with deployment of the GVD demonstration cluster “DUBNA” in 2015, which will comprise 192 light sensors arranged at 8 strings. The first stage of the GVD demonstration cluster which consists of three strings was deployed in April 2013 and successfully operated up to February 2014. We review the prototyping phase of the BAIKAL-GVD project and describe the configuration and design of the 2013 engineering array.

Data acquisition system of the NT1000 Baikal neutrino telescope

In April of 2013, the first stage of the experimental cluster of the NT1000 deep-water neutrino telescope consisting of three strings with 24 optical modules in each was installed at Lake Baikal and switched on in the continuous exposure mode. The detection and data acquisition systems of this setup are described.

Towards high energy neutrino acoustic detector in Lake Baikal: Current status and perspectives

We report on the current state of the Baikal acoustic neutrino detection project. The new results of pulse simulation are presented. The Askarian approach was exploited to calculate the acoustic pulses produced by ultra-high-energy (UHE) particles. Preliminary results of the telescope effective volume estimation are presented. It is described how new Acoustic Sensor Modules are put into operation.

The Baikal Experiment – from Megaton to Gigaton

We review the status of the Lake Baikal Neutrino Experiment. Preparation towards a km3-scale Gigaton Volume Detector (GVD) in Lake Baikal is currently a central activity. As an important milestone, a km3-prototype string comprising 6 optical modules and based on a completely new technology, has been installed and was put into operation together with NT200+ in April, 2008. An upgraded version of the prototype string, which comprises 12 optical modules, was put into operation in April 2009. We also present new results from the long-term operation of NT200, including an improved limit on the diffuse astrophysical neutrino flux.

Neutrino signal at Baikal from dark matter in the Galactic Center

We discuss neutrinos originating from dark matter in the Galactic Center and present sensitivity of Baikal Gigaton Volume Detector to this signal.

Data acquisition system for the Baikal-GVD neutrino telescope

The objective of the Baikal-GVD project is the construction of a km3-scale neutrino telescope in Lake Baikal. The Gigaton Volume Detector consists of a large three-dimensional array of photo-multiplier tubes. The first GVD-cluster has been deployed and commissioned in April 2015. The data acquisition system (DAQ) of the detector takes care of the digitization of the photo-multiplier tube signals, data transmission, filtering and storage. The design and the implementation of the data acquisition system are described.

Gigaton Volume Detector in Lake Baikal: status of the project

Baikal-GVD is a kilometer-scale neutrino telescope under construction in Lake Baikal, which will be formed by multi-megaton subarrays – clusters of strings. A first demonstration cluster “Dubna” has been deployed in 2015 and comprises 192 optical modules (OMs). In 2016 this cluster was upgraded to the baseline configuration which comprises 288 OMs arranged at eight strings. The second full-scale GVD-cluster was deployed and put in operation in 2017. We review the present activity towards the GVD implementation and discuss some selected results obtained with the “Dubna” cluster.