ORCA, Oscillation Research with Cosmics in the Abyss, is the low energy KM3NeT neutrino underwater detector, located in the French Mediterranean sea. It comprises a dense array of optical modules designed to detect the emitted Cherenkov light emitted from charged particles resulting from neutrino interactions in the vicinity of the detector. Its main physics goal is the determination of the neutrino mass hierarchy by quantifying the matter-induced effect on the oscillation probabilities of atmospheric neutrinos in the energy range, 3-50 GeV, where the effects of neutrino oscillation phenomena are dominant.
In 2019, four detection units were operational. Two more had been added in early 2020. This work presents an overview of the detector performance in 2019 and 2020 as well as its sensitivity to neutrino oscillations.
PS: four extra detections units have been deployed in Late November 2021! For a total of 10 DUs. ORCA is growing!