Speaker
Description
The acoustic detection of Ultra-High-Energy (UHE) neutrinos has emerged as a promising technique for probing the highest-energy regime of neutrino astrophysics. The recent observation of a UHE event by the KM3NeT detector has further strengthened interest in complementary detection methods beyond the standard Cherenkov approach. At the KM3NeT/ARCA site, deployed at a depth of 3500 m and located 100 km offshore Capo Passero (Sicily), INFN-LNS operates a long-baseline array of three hydrophones continuously recording acoustic data since 2024 with a sampling rate of about 195 kHz and calibrated from few Hz up to 90 kHz. These hydrophones offer the opportunity to perform a long-term monitoring of the acoustic soundscape and evaluate expected signal to noise ratio in the frequency range relevant for neutrino-induced signals. This paves the way to explore the feasibility of acoustic neutrino detection at the Capo Passero Site.A statistical analysis of the ambient noise at the KM3NeT/ARCA site using more than 2 years of continuous data taking. In addition, preliminary studies on signal identification techniques are reported, aimed at identifying neutrino-like induced acoustic signatures from the measured background.