An operation to deploy 5 new ARCA (Astroparticle Research with Cosmics in the Abyss) detector lines has taken place in the infrastructure of the Italian KM3NeT site off Sicily. This is a major step by the collaboration to build the telescope at the Italian site.In total, six detection units are now in operation, representing the initial core of the KM3NeT/ARCA neutrino telescope. With the six ORCA detection units already taking data, the KM3NeT neutrino observatory has now comparable sensitivity to that of its predecessor, the ANTARES neutrino telescope.Access to the press release prepared by the French laboratories involved in the KM3NeT collaboration --> Press release

A team of researchers, engineers, technicians and trainees from Subatech is directly involved in this operation through its participation in the commissioning of the telescope in its new form and in particular in the start-up and optimisation of all the acoustic elements that are indispensable for controlling its geometry and consequently its pointing accuracy. A slightly more symbolic step was also accomplished for this optical module integration team. Indeed, one of the DOMs assembled in Nantes was sent urgently to Catania to replace a defective module on one of the lines prepared for this deployment. This is the first sensor assembled at Subatech to be in operation in the field, at a depth of 3500m.