| PI | Institute/Department | |
|---|---|---|
| Prohira, Steven David |
The University of Kansas, Department of Physics & Astronomy
|
|
| Besson, David Z |
The University of Kansas, Department of Physics & Astronomy
|
| Program Manager | Funding Agency | |
|---|---|---|
| Grant, Dr. Darren |
National Science Foundation
|
This project will develop the prototype of the Radar Echo Telescope for Cosmic Rays and Neutrinos ready for installation at Taylor Dome in Antarctica. Radar echo detection is the process by which radio waves are reflected from an object in order to measure its properties, including position, direction, and spatial extent. High-energy particles interacting in a dense material like ice produce cascades of charged particles and a dense cloud of ionization, which reflects incident radio waves, allowing for remote detection of high-energy particles such as neutrinos. Such radar echoes have already been observed in a test-beam measurement. This work will establish the technical aspects of this transformative detector technology for neutrinos with energies of 10 peta-electron-volts (PeV) and beyond. Expanding access to scientific thought and activities at a young age is a key step towards expanding general scientific literacy and training future scientists from all backgrounds. The NSF-supported ASPIRE program at The Ohio State University for high school women will be extended to involve the radar detection of meteors. Students will design, construct, and use an antenna to detect a faint radio signal, inspiring curiosity and creativity.
The first installation to be planned will be the Radar Echo Telescope (RET) for Cosmic Rays (RET-CR,) which will detect cascades from ultra-high-energy cosmic rays (UHECR) and develop the techniques for the future RET for neutrinos, RET-N. UHECR are well studied and make an ideal, in-situ ‘test beam’. The optical Cherenkov detector IceCube has detected neutrinos above 1PeV, and its upgrade will extend this to ~10 PeV. The RET targets neutrinos with energies in the 10-100 PeV range, for which there is no existing technology with greater sensitivity. Detecting a statistically significant population of 10-100 PeV neutrinos is crucial to probe the sources of UHECR and to measure neutrino-nucleon interactions at center-of-mass energies >100 TeV, both open experimental questions. This project advances the goals of the NSF Windows on the Universe Big Idea.
The major goal of this collaboration between Prohira (2306424, University of Kansas, Center for Research Inc) and Besson (2012989, University of Kansas, Center for Research Inc) is to develop and deploy a system to test the radar echo method of high-energy particle detection in the Arctic ice. Ultimately, the Radar Echo Telescope (RET) will detect neutrino-induced cascades in the ice via the radar echo telescope for neutrinos (RET-N). The main scientific goal of the project is to develop and deploy this system, which is the first of its kind, in service of the larger goal of detecting neutrinos in the ice.
In 2023, a field team of two will travel to Summit Station as an advance party. This team will verify condition of shipped equipment and prepare hardware and equipment for a subsequent group of three participants to join for an overlapping period to deploy the equipment. Researchers will perform day trips to an off-station science site approximately 5 km from Summit Station. They will assemble a solar power system, create shallow boreholes using a handheld drill system, and deploy near-surface science antennas at the site. During this trip they will set up a wireless network connection to Summit Station using hardware and support provided by Battelle ARO. This will allow network communications between the off-station science site and Summit Station to facilitate the initial installation and, later, to allow science data to be transferred to Summit Station. At Summit Station, research team hardware in the Mobile Science Facility (MSF) will be connected to power and to the network; this will enable the team to store a backup copy of science data. In addition, the research team will send a 700 MB / day subset of their data over the off-station network connection. The science detection hardware will operate autonomously through the summer. At the end of the summer, three research team participants will travel to the station to dismantle and package the science hardware, and to retrieve the data drives.
In 2024, a team of approximately 15 will return for drilling activities. Details are TBD.
Note: In 2022 PI Prohira changed institutions from Ohio State University to University of Kansas, Center for Research Inc at which time a new grant was awarded (2306424) and funds transferred from the previous grant, 2012980.
Battelle ARO will provide Air National Guard (ANG) coordination for passengers and cargo; lodging in Kangerlussuaq, Summit Station user days; science technician support; physical space, power, and network connection in the MSF; use of NSF snowmachines; fuel; and communications and safety gear from the NSF inventory. Battelle ARO will provide a wireless network connection from the remote science site to Summit Station and network support for 700 MB/day off-station data transmission. All other logistics will be arranged and paid for by the PI from the research grant.
| Season | Field Site | Date In | Date Out | #People |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2023
|
Greenland - Summit
|
|
|
8
|
|
2024
|
Greenland - Summit
|
|
|
9
|