Radar detection of neutrino-induced cascades in ice: experimental evidence and future prospects

by Steven Prohira (Ohio State University)

Thursday 12 Sep 2019, 15:00 → 16:00 US/Eastern

ABSTRACT:  In order to detect ultra-high energy (UHE) neutrinos (⪆ few PeV), tens to hundreds of cubic kilometers of material must be instrumented, owing to the exceedingly low flux. Radio methods have been suggested as the clear way forward in the UHE regime, owing to very long path lengths for radio waves in ice, meaning that a massive volume can be sparsely instrumented. Among radio techniques, the most recent--and most promising--is the radar detection method. Here, radio waves illuminate a volume, and if an UHE neutrino-induced cascade occurs within the volume, these waves are reflected to a distant receiver. In this seminar, we present the first evidence of detection of such a radar reflection, captured at SLAC in experiment T-576. We then present the science case for radar, and show that it has the best discovery potential for a detector technology in the UHE range.