The science objectives of KM3NeT are linked to a variety of different fields of expertise which in turn are represented by different science communities, each with their individual tools, procedures, communication and dissemination channels, and research cultures. Major examples are astrophysics, particle physics, and marine sciences. Even smaller subfields, however, tend to develop their peculiarities. Examples are atmospheric neutrino simulation and modelling, experimental neutrino oscillation studies, dark matter searches, or theoretical high-energy astrophysics. In the context of the KM3NeT-INFRADEV project, a sustainable cooperation was established with these communities thus making available to KM3NeT their respective expertise and tools, as well as to disseminate KM3NeT data and measurement opportunities to them.

The scientific environment of KM3NeT

The KM3NeT research is at the forefront of science, both respecting the expected results and the tools, procedures and input required to obtain these results. Examples for the latter are: simulations of atmospheric neutrinos in the energy regime from GeV to PeV, including issues such as low-energy neutrino cross sections and high-energy prompt neutrino production; interpreting neutrino oscillation measurements in conjunction with other experimental results and theoretical calculations; linking of indirect dark matter searches to exclusion limits from direct searches, to results from accelerator-based experiments and to theoretical dark matter models; using theoretical high-energy astrophysical results and predictions for targeted measurements with KM3NeT; using marine science expertise to optimise the modelling of the data taking conditions in the deep sea.

Institutionalised scientific cooperation

Even though the KM3NeT Collaboration has addressed these topics in the past together with corresponding experts, the cooperation was mainly between individual scientists or through exchanges at conferences and workshops. Consequently, there was a lack of information on and access to the expert tools and developments in the different science fields, and vice versa these communities were not fully informed about the objectives and opportunities of KM3NeT. Thanks to the INFRADEV project, institutionalised cooperation with a variety of other communities was established and a framework for exchanges of scientists between other collaborations, in- and outside of astroparticle physics, and KM3NeT was set up, both at the PhD, junior and senior level.

The results of these activities, published in the Project outputs section, are gathered in the following deliverables:

  • D6.1 – KM3NeT report on legal framework, advertisement and selection procedures for scientific exchanges 
  • D6.2 – KM3NeT report on establishing selection criteria and a selection committee for scientific exchanges
  • D6.3 – KM3NeT report on working group meetings
  • D6.4 – KM3NeT report on expert groups established, meetings held and agreements in preparation
  • D6.5 – KM3NeT report on Pilot Exchange Program
  • D6.6 – KM3NeT report on implementation of sustainable cooperation with other science communities

KM3NeT-INFRADEV was supported by the European Commission Framework Programme Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation action under grant agreement n. 739560.