A.E. Ball

The optical module for the NESTOR neutrino telescope

NESTOR is a deep-sea water Cherenkov neutrino detector now under construction for deployment in the Mediterranean off Greece. Its key component is an optical module employing a photomultiplier tube with a 15 in. hemispherical photocathode in a transparent glass pressure housing. Extensive tests have been made on the sensitivity, uniformity, time resolution, noise rates and mechanical properties of the module: several test deployments have been made at sea.

Recent results from NESTOR

A module of the NESTOR underwater neutrino telescope, was deployed, in March 2003, at a depth of 3800m in order to test the overall detector performance and particularly that of the data acquisition systems. A prolonged period of running under stable operating conditions made it possible to measure the cosmic ray muon flux, I0 · cos a (θ). We also present our plans for the near future.

Updated results of the horn study for the Nufact

Abstract An updated study of a magnetic horn as a possible option for the pion collection system at the Neutrino Factory is presented. The pion yield is similar to that obtained from the standard benchmark solenoid.

NESTOR: A status report

NESTOR is an underwater neutrino astrophysics laboratory to be located in the international waters of the southwest of Greece. The first phase of this experiment is the construction and deployment of one hexagonal tower consisting of 168 optical modules, with effective are of 20000m2 for E ⩾ TeV neutrinos. Over the past few years detailed studies of the site have been carried out while many tests have been performed. The current status of the preparation of the experiment and the future plans will be presented.

Design studies for a long base-line neutrino beam

Abstract Strong interest has recently been shown in very long base-line neutrino beams, directed at existing or planned massive detector facilities, in order to extend the search for neutrino oscillations. Among such possibilities are beams from CERN pointing towards the Gran Sasso Underground Laboratory in Italy and the NESTOR Underwater Laboratory in the Ionian Sea off the west coast of the Peloponnese. In order to establish the basic parameters, a number of possible configurations for such beams have been studied covering a range of neutrino energy bands; estimates of the neutrino fluxes, event rates and backgrounds at typical detectors are reported. Considerations have been given to the optimum length and radius of the decay tunnels. It is shown that with one year of operation, a neutrino oscillation search down to limits of sin2 2θ = 1.1 × 10−2 and Δm2 = 3.5 × 10−4eV2 could be made with currently proposed detectors.

Status of NESTOR, a deep sea neutrino telescope in the Mediterranean

In the last few years a great interest has been expressed for the construction of a Neutrino Astroparticle Physics Laboratory in the Mediterranean. The NESTOR collaboration made important progresses and plans soon to deploy in deep sea a detector with ∼ 104 m2 effective surface. This detector will be able not only to demonstrate the validity of the experimental approach but also to start data collection and then real Neutrino Astrophysics. The status of the preparation of the experiment and the future programs are described.