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An Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP) was moored at the deep-sea site of the ANTARES neutrino telescope near Toulon, France, thus providing a unique opportunity to compare high-resolution acoustic and optical observations between 70 and 170 m above the sea bed at 2475 m. The ADCP measured downward vertical currents of magnitudes up to 0.03 m s-1 in late winter and early spring 2006. In the same period, observations were made of enhanced levels of acoustic reflection, interpreted as suspended particles including zooplankton, by a factor of about 10 and of horizontal currents reaching 0.35 m s-1. These observations coincided with high light levels detected by the telescope, interpreted as increased bioluminescence. During winter 2006 deep dense-water formation occurred in the Ligurian subbasin, thus providing a possible explanation for these observations. However, the 10-20 days quasi-periodic episodes of high levels of acoustic reflection, light and large vertical currents continuing into the summer are not direct evidence of this process. It is hypothesized that the main process allowing for suspended material to be moved vertically later in the year is local advection, linked with topographic boundary current instabilities along the rim of the 'Northern Current'., Comment: 30 pages, 7 figures

The ZEPLIN-III experiment is operating in its second phase at the Boulby Underground Laboratory in search of dark matter WIMPs. The major upgrades to the instrument over its first science run include lower background photomultiplier tubes and installation of a plastic scintillator veto system. Performance results from the veto detector using calibration and science data in its first six months of operation in coincidence with ZEPLIN-III are presented. With fully automated operation and calibration, the veto system has maintained high stability and achieves near unity live time relative to ZEPLIN-III. Calibrations with a neutron source demonstrate a rejection of 60% of neutron-induced nuclear recoils in ZEPLIN-III that might otherwise be misidentified as WIMPs. This tagging efficiency reduces the expected untagged nuclear recoil background from neutrons during science data taking to a very low rate of ~0.2 events per year in the WIMP acceptance region. Additionally, the veto detector provides rejection of 28% of gamma-ray induced background events, allowing the sampling of the dominant source of background in ZEPLIN-III - multiple scatter gamma-rays with rare topologies. Since WIMPs will not be tagged by the veto detector, and tags due to gamma-rays and neutrons are separable, this population of multiple scatter events may be characterised without biasing the analysis of candidate WIMP signals in the data.

The design, optimisation and construction of an anti-coincidence veto detector to complement the ZEPLIN-III direct dark matter search instrument is described. One tonne of plastic scintillator is arranged into 52 bars individually read out by photomultipliers and coupled to a gadolinium-loaded passive polypropylene shield. Particular attention has been paid to radiological content. The overall aim has been to achieve a veto detector of low threshold and high efficiency without the creation of additional background in ZEPLIN-III, all at a reasonable cost. Extensive experimental measurements of the components have been made, including radioactivity levels and performance characteristics. These have been used to inform a complete end-to-end Monte Carlo simulation that has then been used to calculate the expected performance of the new instrument, both operating alone and as an anti-coincidence detector for ZEPLIN-III. The veto device will be capable of rejecting over 65% of coincident nuclear recoil events from neutron background in the energy range of interest in ZEPLIN-III. This will reduce the background in ZEPLIN-III from ~0.4 to ~0.14 events per year in the WIMP acceptance region, a significant factor in the event of a non-zero observation. Furthermore, in addition to providing valuable diagnostic capabilities, the veto is capable of tagging over 15% for gamma-ray rejection, all whilst contributing no significant additional background. In conjunction with the replacement of the internal ZEPLIN-III photomultiplier array, the new veto is expected to improve significantly the sensitivity of the ZEPLIN-III instrument to dark matter, allowing spin independent WIMP-nucleon cross sections below 1E-8 pb to be probed.

We present limits on the WIMP-nucleon cross section for inelastic dark matter derived from the 2008 run of ZEPLIN-III. Cuts, notably on scintillation pulse shape and scintillation-to-ionisation ratio, give a net exposure of 63 kg.days in the range 20-80keV nuclear recoil energy, in which 6 events are observed. Upper limits on signal rate are derived from the maximum empty patch in the data. Under standard halo assumptions a small region of parameter space consistent, at 99% CL, with causing the 1.17 ton.year DAMA modulation signal is allowed at 90% CL: it is in the mass range 45-60 GeV with a minimum CL of 88%, again derived from the maximum patch. This is the tightest constraint on that explanation of the DAMA result yet presented using a xenon target., Comment: 4 pages, 5 figures. Updated with 1.17 ton.year DAMA results.

A method is described that allows calibration and assessment of the linearity of response of an array of photomultiplier tubes. The method does not require knowledge of the photomultiplier single photoelectron response model and uses science data directly, thus eliminating the need for dedicated data sets. In this manner all photomultiplier working conditions (e.g. temperature, external fields, etc) are exactly matched between calibration and science acquisitions. This is of particular importance in low background experiments such as ZEPLIN-III, where methods involving the use of external light sources for calibration are severely constrained., Comment: 15 pages, 6 figures

We present new experimental constraints on the WIMP-nucleon spin-dependent elastic cross-sections using data from the first science run of ZEPLIN-III, a two-phase xenon experiment searching for galactic dark matter WIMPs based at the Boulby mine. Analysis of $\sim$450 kg$\cdot$days fiducial exposure revealed a most likely signal of zero events, leading to a 90%-confidence upper limit on the pure WIMP-neutron cross-section of $\sigma_n=1.8\times 10^{-2}$ pb at 55 GeV/$c^2$ WIMP mass. Recent calculations of the nuclear spin structure based on the Bonn CD nucleon-nucleon potential were used for the odd-neutron isotopes $^{129}$Xe and $^{131}$Xe. These indicate that the sensitivity of xenon targets to the spin-dependent WIMP-proton interaction is much lower than implied by previous calculations, whereas the WIMP-neutron sensitivity is impaired only by a factor of $\sim$2., Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures

A timing analysis of VHE gamma-ray observations of Cen X-3 taken with the University of Durham Mark 6 telescope was performed, using both Rayleigh and Bayesian statistics. Data from only 1 observation produced evidence for periodicity, in a 'soft' cut data set, with an overall chance probability <0.01 and blueshifted by 6.6ms from the nominal second harmonic of the pulse period. We show that the disappearance of the Rayleigh peak in the fully cut data set is consistent with a gamma-ray origin hypothesis. The second part of the paper considers theoretical models that could explain the existing data of Cen X-3 in high and very high energy gamma-rays. On the basis of energetics, all reasonable options for gamma-ray production must be connected to jets emerging from the inner accretion disc around the neutron star. One principal option is a large scale source, with R_s~10^13-14cm, assuming effective acceleration of electrons by shocks produced by the interaction of the jets with the dense atmosphere of the binary. The bulk of gamma-ray features could be explained by this model except modulations at the pulsar period, which would require a source with R_s<10^11cm. We consider hadronic and leptonic models for the formation of such a compact object. Both models predict the episodes of pulsed emission may be rare, of typical duration ~few hours, and the frequency of pulsations should be significantly shifted from the nominal frequency of the X-ray pulsar. The opportunities to distinguish between different models using future gamma-ray observations of this X-ray binary are discussed. (v. abridged), Comment: 18 pages, 10 figures to be published in Astronomy and Astrophysics

Atmospheric Cerenkov telescopes are used to detect electromagnetic showers from primary gamma rays of energy > 300 GeV and to discriminate these from cascades due to hadrons using the shape and orientation of the Cerenkov images. The geomagnetic field affects the development of showers and diffuses and distorts the images. When the component of the field normal to the shower axis is sufficiently large (> 0.4 G) the performance of gamma ray telescopes may be affected., Comment: 4 pages, 5 figures, to appear in the Proceedings of 26th International Cosmic Ray Conference (Salt Lake City, 1999)

The University of Durham Mark 6 Telescope has been used to make observations of a number of AGNs visible from the Southern Hemisphere. Results are presented for limits to VHE gamma ray emission from 1ES 0323+022, PKS 0829+046, 1ES 1101-232, Cen A, PKS 1514-24, RXJ 10578-275 and 1ES 2316-423, both for steady emission and for outbursts on timescales of ~ 1 day., Comment: 4 pages, to appear in the Proceedings of 26th International Cosmic Ray Conference (Salt Lake City, 1999)

A programme of detailed simulations of the response of the Durham Mark 6 atmospheric Cherenkov telescope is in progress. The effective collecting area for triggering by gamma-ray showers after application of selection criteria is derived as a function of energy. An initial result from the larger events in the 1996 and 1997 observations of the BL Lac PKS 2155-304 is that the time averaged flux above 1.5 TeV was (6.7 +/- 2.2) x 10^-8 m^-2 s^-1., Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures, to appear in the Proceedings of 26th International Cosmic Ray Conference (Salt Lake City, 1999)

Cen X-3 is a well-studied high-mass accreting X-ray binary and a variable source of high energy gamma rays from 100 MeV to 1 TeV. The object has been extensively monitored with the University of Durham Mark 6 telescope. Results of observations, including those taken in 1998 and 1999, are reported. There is no evidence for time variability in all the VHE data. There is also no evidence for correlation of the VHE flux with the X-ray flux detected by BATSE and RXTE/ASM. A search for periodic emission, at or close to the X-ray spin period, in the VHE data yielded a 3 sigma upper limit to the pulsed flux of 2.0 x 10^-12 cm^-2 s^-1., Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures, to appear in the Proceedings of 26th International Cosmic Ray Conference (Salt Lake City, 1999)

The X-ray selected BL Lac PKS 2155-304 has been observed using the University of Durham Mark 6 very high energy gamma ray telescope during 1998. We find no evidence for TeV emission during these recent observations when the X-ray flux was observed to be low. We have reconsidered our measurements made in 1997 November when PKS 2155-304 was in a bright X-ray state and extended X-ray and GeV gamma ray observations were made as part of a multiwavelength campaign. Comparisons are made of the VHE emission during this time with the available data from other wavelengths., Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures, to appear in the Proceedings of 26th International Cosmic Ray Conference (Salt Lake City, 1999)

Observations have been made with the University of Durham Mark 6 telescope of a number of supernova remnants and young pulsars (Vela pulsar, PSR B1055-52, PSR J1105-6107, PSR J0537-6910 and PSR B0540-69). No VHE gamma ray emission, either steady or pulsed, has been detected from these objects., Comment: 4 pages, to appear in the Proceedings of 26th International Cosmic Ray Conference (Salt Lake City, 1999)

TeV gamma rays from the blazar Markarian 501 have been detected with the University of Durham Mark 6 atmospheric Cerenkov telescope using the imaging technique at large zenith angles. Observations were made at zenith angles in the range 70 - 73 deg during 1997 July and August when Markarian 501 was undergoing a prolonged and strong flare., Comment: 7 pages, 2 figures, accepted for publication in J. Phys. G.: Nucl. Part. Phys

Atmospheric Cerenkov telescopes are used to detect electromagnetic showers from primary gamma rays of energy ~300 GeV - ~10 TeV and to discriminate these from cascades due to hadrons using the Cerenkov images. The geomagnetic field affects the development of showers and is shown to diffuse and distort the images. When the component of the field normal to the shower axis is sufficiently large (> 0.4 G) the performance of gamma ray telescopes may be affected, although corrections should be possible., Comment: 14 pages, 10 figure, accepted for publication in J. Phys. G: Nucl. Part. Phys

Observations have been made, using the University of Durham Mark 6 gamma ray telescope, of the very high energy gamma ray emission from a number of active galactic nuclei visible from the Southern hemisphere. Limits are presented to the VHE gamma ray emission from 1ES 0323+022, PKS 0829+046, 1ES 1101--232, Cen A, PKS 1514-24, RXJ 10578-275, and 1ES 2316-423, both for steady long-term emission and for outbursts of emission on timescales of 1 day., Comment: 13 pages, 1 figure, accepted for publication in Ap. J

The close X-ray selected BL Lac PKS 2155--304 has been observed using the University of Durham Mark 6 very high energy (VHE) gamma ray telescope during 1996 September/October/November and 1997 October/November. VHE gamma rays with energy > 300 GeV were detected with a time-averaged integral flux of (4.2 +/- 0.7 (stat) +/- 2.0 (sys)) x 10^-11 cm^-2 s^-1. There is evidence for VHE gamma ray emission during our observations in 1996 September and 1997 October/November. The strongest emission was detected in 1997 November, when the object was producing the largest flux ever recorded in high-energy X-rays and was detected in > 100 MeV gamma-rays. The VHE and X-ray fluxes are correlated., Comment: 7 pages, 4 figures, presented at the VERITAS Workshop on the TeV Astrophysics of Extragalactic Objects, to be published in Astroparticle Physics

This paper has been withdrawn by the authors., Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures, presented at the VERITAS Workshop on the TeV Astrophysics of Extragalactic Objects

This paper has been withdrawn by the authors., Comment: 9 pages, 6 figures, submitted to Ap. J

The close X-ray selected BL Lac PKS 2155-304 has been observed using the University of Durham Mark 6 very high energy (VHE) gamma ray telescope during 1996 September/October/November and 1997 October/November. VHE gamma rays with energy > 300 GeV were detected from this object with a time-averaged integral flux of (4.2 +/- 0.7 (stat) +/- 2.0 (sys)) x 10^(-11) per cm2 per s. There is evidence for VHE gamma ray emission during our observations in 1996 September and 1997 October/November, with the strongest emission being detected in 1997 November, when the object was producing the largest flux ever recorded in high-energy X-rays and was detected in > 100 MeV gamma-rays. The VHE and X-ray fluxes show evidence of a correlation., Comment: 14 pages, 6 figures, accepted for publication in Ap. J