Speaker
Description
Water Cherenkov detectors have demonstrated exceptional sensitivity in
neutrino observation over the years. The Hyper-Kamiokande (Hyper-K),
the third generation of underground detectors in Japan, represents a
significant advancement in both sensitivity and scalability. Hyper-K will
act as the far detector for a long-baseline neutrino oscillation experiment
using the upgraded 1.3 MW J-PARC muon neutrino/antineutrino beam. In
addition, it will be capable of observing proton decays, atmospheric
neutrinos, and neutrinos from astronomical sources. Hyper-K features a
cylindrical tank measuring 71 meters in depth and 68 meters in
diameter. Its fiducial volume, holding a mass of 186 kilotons, will be
equipped with an array of 20,000 photomultiplier tubes (20-inch PMTs)
alongside 800 multi-PMT modules (each housing nineteen 3-inch PMTs).
Excavation and tests of the detector are currently undergoing, and the
beginning of its operation is scheduled for 2028. Along this talk, the
research program and recent developments of the Hyper-K experiment
will be presented.
