[en] The design of the readout and data acquisition system of the future KM3NeT neutrino telescope employs 10 Gbps photonic technologies for data transmission to shore. The photonic architecture can handle standard transmission protocols. The generic scheme is based on DWDM technology using lasers on shore and optical modulators in each of the 12,800 Digital Optical Modules arranged on several hundred vertical detection units anchored to the seabed. Each module will house 31 photomultipliers together with auxiliary instrumentation and readout electronics. A 100 km electro-optical fibre cable will connect the optical modules to the store. The readout system will guarantee an individual optical connection between each optical module and the shore. A small-scale prototype of a detection unit with four optical modules is in a realization phase and will allow for in situ testing of the data transmission network. We will present results of laboratory tests of the photonics-oriented transmission layer of the network that have been realized for the prototype detection unit

[en] In the context of the KM3NeT Design Study and building on the experience with the data acquisition system of the ANTARES telescope, an alternative readout and DAQ architecture has been developed for deep-sea neutrino telescopes. The system relies on sensor technology using photonic readout and a 10 Gb/s optical network for data acquisition and communication. Compared to ANTARES, more functionality has been migrated to the shore, thus allowing for timely deployment of the telescope components and easy access to the system during the long lifetime of neutrino telescopes. Also the reconfiguration of the DAQ system is located on shore. Timing calibration is an integral part of the network architecture providing an event timing integrity with less than 1 ns. Although developed for use in the deep-sea, the concept of the system can be used in other applications, e.g. in the LHC experiments.

[en] In the Mediterranean Sea the ANTARES telescope is operating since 2006. Building on the success of this telescope and on the experiences of the DUMAND, IceCube, NEMO and NESTOR projects, a design for a new generation deep-sea neutrino telescope has been developed, which relies on the paradigm of the neutrino telescope as a giant sensor. Slender flexible strings with optical sensors form the basic building blocks for the telescope. The sensor concept has been implemented using photonic technologies for readout, data acquisition and communication, which allow for migration of functionalities from the deep-sea to the shore. This is one of the detector designs options developed during the EU funded KM3NeT Design Study. We will present its concept and implications for the detector as a whole.