NPA Seminar, Steven Prohira, Ohio State University, “Toward Detection of UHE Neutrinos with the Radar Echo Telescope”

Detection of ultra-high-energy (UHE) neutrinos is the key to understanding the most energetic processes in the universe, namely, the sources of UHE cosmic rays which have been detected at earth with energies exceeding 1 Joule per nucleon. As UHE cosmic messengers, neutrinos are unparalleled for their ability to travel from source to Earth. Unfortunately, however, they are very difficult to detect, owing to their low flux and small interaction cross section. In this talk I will discuss a novel, forthcoming experimental effort: the Radar Echo Telescope, which uses well-established radar technology to detect the cascade produced by these elusive neutrinos as they interact in polar ice. I’ll discuss the theory and storied history of the radar echo method, recent laboratory work, our current experimental efforts in service of UHE neutrino detection with radar, and our future prospects.
In-person attendance will be capped at 20 people on a first-come, first-served basis, according to the current Yale policies.
More Information: https://covid19.yale.edu/campus-life/events-gatherings-meetings
Please email the host for the Zoom connection information.
Host: Jorge Torres
jorge.torresespinosa@yale.edu