Detection and localization of very high energy neutrinos by a passive underwater acoustic telescope

Abstract

An underwater telescope has been set off Toulon, named Antares for Astronomy with a Neutrino Telescope and Abyss RESearch, composed by vertical hydrophones lines. It is used for the detection and the estimation of direction of arrival of very high energy neutrinos. Very high energy neutrinos can be detected due to a shower they produce in the sea water. This shower is the source of a very short acoustic signal, called Antares signal. We have constructed a global passive detection and localisation system devoted to the acoustic signal emitted after the collision of very high energy particles in sea water. The presented results are encouraging but must be confirmed with sea data.