The KM3NeT4RR project, of which INFN is both the proponent and leader, funds crucial actions for expanding the Italian site of Capo Passero, off the coast of Sicily, of the KM3NeT submarine neutrino observatory, the ambitious international project for neutrino research in the Mediterranean. The observatory includes the submarine apparatus ARCA (Astroparticle Research with Cosmics in the Abyss), off the coast of Sicily, which, once completed, will boast 230 submarine detection strings, and ORCA (Oscillation Research with Cosmics in the Abyss), off the coast of Toulon in France, for which 115 detection strings are planned. The KM3NeT4RR project will significantly expand the potential of the submarine telescope for ARCA neutrinos aimed at searching for cosmic neutrinos up to extreme energies, thereby making a crucial contribution to the development of scientific programmes of multi-message astronomy. Thanks to the PNRR funding, approximately 2/3 of the final infrastructure will be completed in 30 months, also equipping INFN with laboratories and the necessary staff for the expansion, construction and installation of the underlying network and the submarine detection systems.
Principal Investigator – Giacomo Cuttone – INFN LNS
Infrastructure Manager Sebastiano Ciancio – INFN LNS
Financial Officer Barbara Artivi – INFN Genova
Total investment: 67.186.973.06 €
Duration (months): 30
Start date: Thursday, December 1, 2022
End date: Saturday, May 31, 2025
Expected total investment and recruiting plan according to project baseline
| Institutions involved | Investiment | Fixed Term Personnel |
|---|---|---|
| INFN | € 59.330.290,48 | 31 (59,6%) |
| University of Campania | € 3.512.583,16 | 5 (9,6%) |
| University of Salerno | € 1.726.697,52 | 4 (7,7%) |
| INAF | € 989.407,60 | 3 (5,8%) |
| Bari Polytechnic | € 780.565,00 | 1 (1,9%) |
| University of Catania | € 329.200,48 | 2 (3,8%) |
| Federico II University of Naple* | € 231.389,64 | 3 (5,8%) |
| University of Genoa* | € 172.742,94 | 2 (3,8%) |
| Sapienza University of Rome* | € 114.096,24 | 1 ( 1,9%) |
| TOTAL | € 67.186.973,06 | 52 (100%) |