B. K. Lubsandorzhiev

The Baikal underwater neutrino telescope: Design, performance and first results

Abstract A first deep underwater detector for muons and neutrinos, NT-200 , is currently under construction in Lake Baikal. Part of the detector, NT-36 , with 36 photomultiplier tubes at three strings, has been installed in 1993. This array allowed for the first time a three-dimensional mapping of Cherenkov light deep underwater. Since then, various arrays have been almost continuously taking data. Presently a 96-PMT array is operating. We describe the NT-200 detector design and present results obtained with NT-36 .

The optical module of the Baikal deep underwater neutrino telescope

Abstract A deep underwater Cherenkov telescope has been operating since 1993 in stages of growing size at 1.1xa0km depth in Lake Baikal. The key component of the telescope is the Optical Module (OM) which houses the highly sensitive phototube QUASAR-370. We describe design and parameters of the QUASAR-370, the layout of the optical module, the front-end electronics and the calibration procedures, and present selected results from the five-year operation underwater. Also, future developments with respect to a telescope consisting from several thousand OMs are discussed.A deep underwater Cherenkov telescope has been operating since 1993 in stages of growing size at 1.1 km depth in Lake Baikal. The key component of the telescope is the Optical Module (OM) which houses the highly sensitive phototube QUASAR-370. We describe design and parameters of the QUASAR-370, the layout of the optical module, the front-end electronics and the calibration procedures, and present selected results from the five-year operation underwater. Also, future developments with respect to a telescope consisting from several thousand OMs are discussed.

Registration of atmospheric neutrinos with the BAIKAL Neutrino Telescope NT-96

We present first neutrino induced events observed with a deep underwater neutrino telescope. Data from 70 days effective life time of the BAIKAL prototype telescope NT-96 have been analyzed with two different methods. With the standard track reconstruction method, 9 clear upward muon candidates have been identified, in good agreement with 8.7 events expected from Monte Carlo calculations for atmospheric neutrinos. The second analysis is tailored to muons coming from close to the opposite zenith. It yields 4 events, compared to 3.5 from Monte Carlo expectations. From this we derive a 90 % upper flux limit of 1.1 * 10^-13 cm^-2 sec^-1 for muons in excess of those expected from atmospheric neutrinos with zenith angle > 150 degrees and energy > 10GeV.We present neutrino induced events observed with a deep underwater neutrino telescope. Data from 70 days effective life time of the BAIKAL prototype telescope NT-96 have been analyzed with two different methods. With the standard track reconstruction method, 9 clear upward muon candidates have been identified, in good agreement with expectation from Monte Carlo calculations for atmospheric neutrinos. The second analysis is tailored to muons coming from close to the opposite zenith. It yields 4 events, compared to 3.5 from Monte Carlo expectations. From this we derive a 90% upper flux limit of 1:1 10 13 cm 2 sec 1 for muons in excess of those expected from atmospheric neutrinos with zenith angle > 150 degrees and energy > 10 GeV.Abstract We present the first neutrino induced events observed with a deep underwater neutrino telescope. Data from 70 days effective life time of the BAIKAL prototype telescope NT-96 have been analyzed with two different methods. With the standard track reconstruction method, 9 clear upward muon candidates have been identified, in good agreement with 8.7 events expected from Monte Carlo calculations for atmospheric neutrinos. The second analysis is tailored to muons coming from close to the opposite zenith. It yields 4 events, compared to 3.5 from Monte Carlo expectations. From this we derive a 90% upper flux limit of 1.1 · 10−13 cm−2 sec−1 for muons in excess of those expected from atmospheric neutrinos with zenith angle > 150 degrees and energy > 10 GeV.

Photoelectron backscattering in vacuum phototubes

In this article we describe results of a photoelectron backscattering effect in vacuum phototubes: classical photomultipliers (PMT) and hybrid phototubes (PH). Late pulses occurring in PMTs are attributed to the photoelectron backscattering and distinguished from pulses due to an anode glow effect. The late pulses are measured in a number of PMTs and HPs with various photocathode sizes covering 1-50 cm range and different types of the first dynode materials and construction designs. It is shown that the late pulses are a generic feature of all vacuum photodetectors - PMTs and PHs and they dont deteriorate dramatically amplitude and timing responses of vacuum phototubes.

Lake Baikal Neutrino Experiment: Selected Results

We review the present status of the Lake Baikal neutrino experiment and present selected physics results obtained during the consecutive stages of the stepwise upgrade of the detector: from NT-36 to NT-96. The results cover atmospheric muons, neutrino events, neutrinos of very high energy, searches for neutrino events from WIMP annihilation, searches for magnetic monopoles, and environmental studies. We also describe an air Cherenkov array developed for studying the angular resolution of NT-200.

The Baikal Neutrino Telescope

We review the present status of the Baikal Neutrino Experiment and present results of a search for upward-going atmospheric neutrinos and magnetic monopoles obtained with the detector NT200. The results of a search for very high energy neutrinos are presented and an upper limit on the extraterrestrial diffuse neutrino flux is obtained. We describe the strategy of upgrading the NT200 to NT200+ and creating a detector on the Gigaton scale at Lake Baikal. The first results obtained with the new NT200+ detector as a basic cell of a future Gigaton detector are presented.

Measurements of group velocity of light in the lake Baikal water

Abstract The results of direct measurements of group velocity of light in the lake Baikal water at the depth of 1100 m are presented. The lake Baikal water dispersion has been measured at three wavelengths: 370, 470 and 525 nm . The results are in a rather good agreement with theoretical predictions.

The Lake Baikal underwater telescope NT-36: First months of operation

Abstract Since April 13th 1993, an underwater Cherenkov telescope consisting of 36 photomultipliers arranged along 3 strings is in operation at lake Baikal. We describe the array and present preliminary results of the first five months of operation.

NEW DEVELOPMENTS OF PHOTODETECTORS FOR THE LAKE BAIKAL NEUTRINO EXPERIMENT

New developments of photodetectors for the lake Baikal neutrino experiment are described. Some test results of photodetectors at the lake Baikal are presented.

A nanosecond light source for scintillation-and Cerenkov-detector calibration

A nanosecond blue-light source with increased brightness is described. A light-emitting diode by NICHIA is used. The pulse shaper triggering the light-emitting diode is based on avalanche transistors. The number of photons per pulse is ∼109 at a light-pulse duration of ∼2 ns.