Acoustic signals from proton beam interaction in water—Comparing experimental data and Monte Carlo simulation

The main purpose of this work is related to the opportunity of exploiting the thermo-acoustic effect of pressure pulse generation to detect high-energy neutrinos in underwater environment, in the framework of neutrino astronomy, that is a promising field of investigation in the multi-messenger approach of astrophysical research. The performances of the acoustic detection are discussed presenting an account from test measurements carried out with proton beams at the ITEP accelerator facilities. Combining results from data analysis and Monte Carlo simulation, the potentials of the simulation itself are explored, through comparisons between acquired and simulated pulse and with results from past experiments at proton beams. In addition, the Monte Carlo simulation can provide some indication on parameters that stayed undetermined during the data taking. The presented material is a conclusive report on the ITEP test beam experiment and it represents a good starting point for future developments, both in calibrations (acquired experience and software achievements can be used to plan coming experiments at test beams) and in the study of the neutrino case (computation of neutrino-induced acoustic pulses in water).