| Dave Besson | Status of RICE experiment |
| Results from analysis of the
full RICE dataset (1999-2004) will be presented; plans for future
upgrades to the RICE experiment will also be discussed. |
|
| T. Karg, G. Anton, K. Graf, J. Hößl, A. Kappes, U. Katz, R. Lahmann, C. Naumann, K. Salomon | Design considerations and sensitivity estimates for an acoustic neutrino detector |
| We present a Monte Carlo study
of an underwater acoustic neutrino telescope. Based on the
thermoacoustic model the signature of neutrino induced ultra-high
energetic cascades inside various detector geometries can be simulated.
Acoustic background is taken into accountas an effective detection
threshold. Using a simple position anddirection reconstruction the
detection efficiency of different detectors can be determined. Also
limits on the detectable neutrino flux can be derived. |
|
| Andreas Ringwald | Extremely energetic cosmic neutrinos: Opportunities for Astrophysics, Particle Physics, and Cosmology |
|
Neutrino detectors, sensitive in the energy regime from 10^{17} eV to
10^{23} eV, offer opportunities for astrophysics, particle physics, and
cosmology, as will be outlined in this talk. |
|
| Rodin Porrata | Capabilities of a Radio Surface Array in Greenland |
| I will discuss the concept of
using in a radio surface array in Greenland to study the galactic center
and ongoing efforts to build a prototype. |
|
| J. Bacelar | Using the Westerbork Observatory to detect UHE-n interactions on the Moon |
| Ultra-high-energy neutrinos
interacting in dense media emit coherent radio-frequency pulses. Above
an energy of 100 EeV the amplitude is sufficiently high that
interactions on the lunar surface can be detected here on Earth. We
present here the plans to use the Westerbork Radio Observatory to
perform such a measurement, and compare its capability with the GLUE
experiment. Expected limits on the neutrino flux are presented. |
|
| K. Salomon, G.Anton, K.Graf, J.Hoessl, A.Kappes, T.Karg, U.Katz, R.Lahmann, C.Naumann | Measurements and simulation studies of piezoceramics for acoustic detection |
| Acoustic detection is a
promising field for large scale neutrino detectors using piezo ceramics
as sensors. Hydrophones are needed to detect the acoustic signals expected from the thermoacoustic model proposed by Askaryan. For these kind of detectors calibration sources are needed. An calibration source could be realised with a transmitter making use of the piezoelectric effect. In order to understand the behaviour of piezo ceramics Finite Element simulations have been performed. The goal of this studies is to find the transfer function of the transmitter to be able to send the expected neutrino signals. In addition measurements with a self made fibre coupled interferometer were made to measure the response of the piezos to a certain voltage pulse, which allows to determine the sensitivity of the piezo. |
|
| Predrag Miocinovic | Radio Cherenkov measurements in salt - Towards salt based neutrino detector |
| Salt based detection of
high-energy neutrinos holds a promise of being the most effective
way to reach the sensitivity required to study the astrophysical
neutrino flux at energies above the cosmic-ray spectrum knee. At
University of Hawaii, we have built a testbed for evaluating techniques
and the technology needed for detection of radio cherenkov pulses in
salt. I will describe our testbed and measurement results of CR induced
Chrenkov radio pulses. In addition, I will present a new analysis which
extracts the time-domain shape of the Cherenkov radio pulse as recorded
in the 2001 SLAC experiment. I will conclude with results of a MC study
of the expected neutrino event rates in a large salt-dome radio
cherenkov detector. |
|
| Jaime Alvarez-Muniz, Enrique Marques, Ricardo A. Vazquez, Enrique Zas | Coherent radio emission in different dense media |
| By means of GEANT4-based Monte
Carlo simulations, we have studied the frequency and angular behavior of
Cherenkov radio pulses originated by the excess charge in
electromagnetic showers in different dense media. We have developed a
simple model to relate the main characteristics of the electric field
spectrum to important properties of the shower such as its longitudinal
and lateral development. Using this model the electric field spectrum is
shown to have a scaling behavior with a number of medium parameters. We
explore the validity of our model by comparing its predictions against
full simulations. We explore the optimization of the radio technique for
the detection of high energy neutrinos in the different media. |
|
| V. A. Chechin, E. L. Feinberg, G. A. Gusev, B. N. Lomonosov, K. M. Pichkhadze, N. G. Polukhina, V. A. Ryabov, T. Saito, V. K. Sysoev, V. A. Tsarev | Overview of the LORD (Lunar Orbital Radio Detector) Project |
| The estimate of a feasibility
of the ultrahigh-energy cosmic ray and neutrino detection using lunar
satellite-borne radio receiver is presented. The scientific potential of
the proposed experiment is shown to be high and competitive with the
most promising projects in this field. The data obtained in the proposed
experiment will make possible resolving the current contradictions in
the ultrahigh-energy cosmic ray spectra measured with the major
ground-based arrays. Moreover, they enable us to considerably extend
the accessible energy range and to check predictions of various models
of the origin of the highest-energy particles in the Universe. At the
same time the lunar radio detector provides a mean of searching for
ultrahigh-energy neutrinos with a high sensitivity combined with a very
large target effective mass. |
|
| V.A. Chechin*, E.L. Feinberg*,
G.A.Gusev*, S.M. Kutuzov*, B.N. Lomonosov*, K.M. Pichkhadze**, N.G.
Polukhina*, V.A. Ryabov*, T. Saito***, V.K. Sysoev**, and V.A. Tsarev*,
* P.N. Lebedev Physical Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Leninsky prospect 53, Moscow, 119991 Russia, **S.A. Lavochkin Association, Leningradskoe Shosse 24, Moscow Region, Khimki, 141400 Russia, ***Institute for Advanced Studies, 1-29-6, Shinjuku, Tokyo, 162-0022 , Japan |
The Concept of the LORD Instrument |
| Potentialities of the lunar
satellite-borne radio receivers (LORD) are discussed. The energy
thresholds and event rates for detection of ultrahigh-energy cosmic rays
and neutrinos are presented. Some possible configurations of such an
instrument and the concept of data acquisition system are
considered. |
|
| K.Graf; G.Anton, J.Hoessl, A.Kappes, T.Karg, U.Katz, R.Lahmann, C.Naumann, K.Salomon | Testing acoustic signals of proton and laser beams in water |
| Our group performed laboratory
experiments to investigate the acoustic signals caused by particle and
laser beams in water. These experiments were performed at the proton
accelerator of the "Theodor Svedberg Laboratory" in Uppsala, Sweden and
at a laser assembly available at our institute. The beams were dumped
into a water volume, and the resulting acoustic signals were recorded
with hydrophones,digitized and saved for analysis. These measurements
allow us to test the thermo-acoustic model of signal generation
(Askaryan 1957), the sensor hardware developed in our institute as well
as the data acquisition procedures. The accessible energy range was from
1PeV to 1EeV per 30mus bunch of protons and up to 10EeV for the 9ns
infrared laser pulse. Measurements were performed at varying energies, sensor positions, beam diameters and temperatures between 1 and 20°C. The analysis of the data shows good overall agreement with the expectations from the thermo-acoustic model and simulations based on this model. This implies that the primary mechanism for sound generation by particles transversing water is by heating up the media which expands or contracts giving raise to a pressure pulse of bipolar shape. This talk will give an overview of the conducted experiments, the used equipment and the results obtained. |
|
| Richard Dallier for the CODALEMA collaboration | CODALEMA: a cosmic ray air showers radiodetection experiment |
| The principle, performances and
results of the CODALEMA experimental device, set up to study the
possibility of Ultra High Energy Cosmic Rays (UHECR) radiodetection are
presented. At the time, by the use of both antennas and plastic
scintillators, a set of events has been unambiguously identified as
radio transient signals associated to cosmic rays, for which arrival
directions can be reconstructed from the antenna signals. The effective
energy threshold of the system can be estimated to a few 10^16 eV. In a
subsequent step, we will show that the developped technique allow to
self-trig the acquisition of antenna signals on any radio transient,
without the need of any external (particle detector) trigger. |
|
| Andreas Horneffer for the LOPES Collaboration | Detecting radio pulses from air showers with LOPES |
| LOPES is a LOFAR Prototype
Station aimed to measure radio pulses from air showers. LOFAR is a new
digital radio interferometer, that is being build in The Netherlands.
Working in the frequency range of 10-210 MHz LOFAR is well suited to
measure the radio emission of air showers. LOPES operates in the frequency band of 40-80 MHz. It consists of 30 dipole antennas with an "inverted vee" shape. This gives a large field of view for a single antenna, while all antennas combined have a good angular resolution. After minimal analog treatment the radio wave is sampled wave with high bandwidth ADCs and the whole waveform information is stored in digital form. LOPES is set up at the site of the KASCADE-Grande air shower array. The existing air shower array provide LOPES with a large event trigger and starting points for the LOPES air shower reconstruction. At the KASCADE-Grande site inside the Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe, there is significant radio interference present from intentional and unintentional transmitters. With digital filtering of narrow band interference and digital beam forming LOPES is able to suppress most of this. Thus LOPES is able to reliably measure radio pulses from air showers. The talk will present the technology of LOPES and discuss what is needed to detect radio pulses from air showers. |
|
| R. Lahmann; G. Anton, K. Graf, J.
Hoessl, A. Kappes, T. Karg, U. Katz, C. Naumann, K. Salomon |
The integration of acoustic detection into ANTARES |
| The ANTARES group at the
University of Erlangen is working towards the integration of a set of
acoustic sensors into the ANTARES Neutrino Telescope. With this setup,
tests of acoustic particle detection methods and background studies
shall be performed. The ANTARES Neutrino Telescope, which is currently being constructed in the Mediterranian Sea, will be equipped with the infrastructure to accomodate a 3-dimensional array of photomultipliers for the detection of Cherenkov-light. Within this infrastructure, the required resources for acoustic sensors are available: Bandwidth for the transmission of the acoustic data to the shore, electrical power for the off-shore electronics and physical space to install the acoustic sensors and to route the connecting cables (transmitting signals and power) into the electronics containers. The talk will explain how the integration will be performed with minimal modifications of the existing ANTARES design and which setup is forseen for the acquisition of the acoustic data. |
|
| Nikolay N. Kalmykov, Andrew Konstantinov, Ralph Engel | Simulation of radio signals from 1-10 TeV air showers using EGSnrc |
| The radio emission generated by
extensive air showers presents an interesting alternative to traditional
methods of detection of high-energy cosmic rays (> 10 PeV). We
develop the quantitative theory of this process for 1-10 TeV primary
particles using a EGSnrc Monte Carlo shower simulation. In the model
adopted we take into account Cherenkov and synchrotron radiation. Radial
dependence, frequency spectrum, polarization and some other radio
emission characteristics are considered. |
|
| C. Naumann, G. Anton, K. Graf, J. Hoessl, A. Kappes, T. Karg, U. Katz, R. Lahmann, K. Salomon | Design studies of piezo based receivers for acoustic particle detection in water |
| In addition to its main purpose
as a water-cherenkov neutrino telescope, the ANTARES detector will also
be used as a research infrastructure to study the possibilites of
building a large underwater array for acoustic particle detection.
Therefore the Erlangen group is planning to equip two sectors on the
ANTARES detector strings with acoustical sensors and data acquisition
system. Several possible designs for the acoustical sensors are under investigation, including an array of commercial or self-made hydrophones or the re-fitting of the spheres of the optical modules for the ANTARES detector, replacing the photomultipliers with piezo sensors and electronics. Also, first results from an autonomous acoustic detector prototype (AMADEUS) currently installed on the ANTARES site are presented. |
|
| V.M.Aynutdinov, V.A.Balkanov, I.A.Belolaptikov, L.B.Bezrukov, D.A.Borschev, N.M.Budnev, A.G.Chensky, I.A.Danilchenko, Ya.I.Davidov, Zh.-A.M.Djilkibaev, G.V.Domogatsky, A.N.Dyachok, O.N.Gaponenko, O.A.Gress, T.I.Gress, O.G.Grishin, S.V. Fialkovski, A.M.Klabukov A.I.Klimov, S.I.Klimushin, A.A.Kochanov, K.V.Konischev, A.P.Koshechkin, V.F.Kulepov, L.A.Kuzmichev, B.K.Lubsandorzhiev, M.Mehanov, S.P.Mikheyev, T.Mikolajski, M.B. Milenin, R.R.Mirgazov, E.A.Osipova, A.I.Panfilov, G.L.Pan'kov, L.V.Pan'kov, Yu.V.Parfenov, A.A.Pavlov, D.P.Petuhov, E.N.Pliskovsky, P.G.Pokhil, V.A,Poleschuk, E.G.Popova, V.V.Prosin, M.I.Rozanov, V.Yu.Rubtzov, B.A.Shaibonov, A.Shirokov, Ch.Spiering, B.A.Tarashansky, R.V.Vasiljev, R.Wischnewski, V.A.Zhukov, I.V.Yashin | A High Frequency Noise in the Lake Baikal as a Background for Acoustic Detection of High Energy Neutrino. |
| Results of the study of high
frequency acoustic noise in Lake Baikal are presented. A special
instrument with two hydrophones was designed; data from both hydrophones
are digitized with time interval 8.5 mks and stored in an internal
memory of the instrument. At stationary and homogenous meteorological
condition an integral noise power in the frequency range 1-50 kHz are
depth-independent and typically around 10-200 mPa and rarely higher. The
noise power spectrum decreases typically 5-6 dB with doubling frequency,
but sometimes notable variations in different spectral regions are
observed. Many short pulses with different amplitudes and shapes are
observed, they should be considered as a background for acoustic
neutrino detection. However, most of the short pulses appear due to
noise sound waves interference and can be eliminated by a correlation
analysis. Only a few bipolar pulses probably were produced by the quasi
local sources. |
|
| V.M.Aynutdinov, V.A.Balkanov, I.A.Belolaptikov, L.B.Bezrukov, D.A.Borschev, N.M.Budnev, A.G.Chensky, I.A.Danilchenko, Ya.I.Davidov, Zh.-A.M.Djilkibaev, G.V.Domogatsky, A.N.Dyachok, O.N.Gaponenko, O.A.Gress, T.I.Gress, O.G.Grishin, S.V. Fialkovski, A.M.Klabukov A.I.Klimov, S.I.Klimushin, A.A.Kochanov, K.V.Konischev, A.P.Koshechkin, V.F.Kulepov, L.A.Kuzmichev, B.K.Lubsandorzhiev, M.Mehanov, S.P.Mikheyev, T.Mikolajski, M.B. Milenin, R.R.Mirgazov, E.A.Osipova, A.I.Panfilov, G.L.Pan'kov, L.V.Pan'kov, Yu.V.Parfenov, A.A.Pavlov, D.P.Petuhov, E.N.Pliskovsky, P.G.Pokhil, V.A,Poleschuk, E.G.Popova, V.V.Prosin, M.I.Rozanov, V.Yu.Rubtzov, B.A.Shaibonov, A.Shirokov, Ch.Spiering, B.A.Tarashansky, R.V.Vasiljev, R.Wischnewski, V.A.Zhukov, I.V.Yashin | A Device for Detection of Acoustic Signals from Super High Energy Neutrinos. |
| The design of a device for
detection of acoustic signals from high energy showers is presented. The
instrument has 4 hydrophones, arranged in a pyramid-like geometry.
Signals from hydrophones are digitized with a time interval of 4 mks and
analyzed in situ by a computer. The module will be installed stationary
above the Baikal Neutrino Telescope NT-200+. There are 3 regimes of
operation of the instrument: (1) transmitting of one second sample of
data from all hydrophones to the shore computer centre after trigger
signals from NT-200 and outer strings; (2) search for short acoustic
pulses of definite shape, which can be interpreted as a signal from a
quasi local source; (3) autonomous analysis of acoustic background
statistics. A number of different acoustic pulses are observed in a natural water basins. Short bipolar one have to be considered as a background for the acoustic detection of high energy neutrinos. An algorithm for search of acoustic signals with definite shape, which probably were produced by quasi local sources, is presented. The efficiency of the method was tested on real data, obtained with a 2-channel acoustic module. This algorithm is now used for online data filtering in the 4-channels acoustic device, which will be installed close to the Baikal Neutrino telescope NT-200+. |
|
| M.Chiba, Y.Watanabe, O.Yasusda, T.Kamijo, Y.Chikashige, T.Kon, A.Amano, Y.Takeoka, H.Shimizu | Measurement of attenuation length for radio wave in natural rock salt samples concerning ultra high energy neutrino detection |
| Attenuation length of UHF radio
wave in natural rock salt samples has been measured for detection of a
ultra high energy neutrino detector by a perturbative cavity resonator
method. The attenuation lengths of Hockley salt mine samples show a
similar dependence against the frequency to that of an in situ
measurement by P.Gorham et al. |
|
| Y.Watanabe, M.Chiba, ,O.Yasusda, T.Kamijo, Y.Chikashige, T.Kon, A.Amano, Y.Takeoka, Y.Shimizu | Structure function of excess electron in rock salt |
| Parameterization of space
distribution of excess charges has been studied by Geant4 simulation.
The distribution will be useful to calculate radio wave emission in
Askaryan effect. |
|
| H. Gemmeke, O. Krömer | Advanced Detection Methods of Radio Signals from Cosmic Rays for KASCADE Grande and Auger |
| The LOPES experiment (LOfar
Prototype Station) has been built at the KASCADE-Grande experiment in
order to test the LOFAR (LOw Frequency ARray) technology and demonstrate
its capability for radio measurements in Extensive Air Showers (EAS).
After the first very positive results within the KASCADE Grande Array we
developed the next generation of antennas, electronics, trigger, and
data acquisition system. The main new features are good capability of
self-triggering, easy calibration, and detection of polarization. The
results from this new design are under test in Karlsruhe. Furthermore
the background situation at the site of Auger-South was measured and
analyzed. In both cases the results will be reported. |
|
| P. E. Bagnoli, N. Beverini, E. Castorina, E. Falchini, R. Falciai, V. Flaminio, E. Maccioni, M. Morganti, F. Sorrentino, F. Stefani, C. Trono | Fiber laser hydrophones as pressure sensors |
| The present work deals with
the development of a prototype of hydrophonic sensors for deep see
acoustic detection. The base sensitive element is an erbium-doped single
mode fiber laser. It was obtained by optically inducing a regular and
periodic refractive index modulation within the fiber core, thus
realizing a couple of Bragg grating reflectors delimiting an optical
cavity of given length. The emission wavelength depends on the cavity
length and on the Bragg gratings reflection bandwidth. The
environmental conditions, in terms of temperature, static pressure and
its dynamic variations, can modify these geometrical and optical factors
inducing a wavelength shift of the optical signal. The very narrow
emission band of the laser together with the interferometric detection
techniques allows to detect pressure variations in the mPa range. The
fiber laser sensors were characterized both optically and acoustically
within a closed tub in the laboratory, and compared with a conventional
piezoelectric hydrophone. The high sensitivity makes these sensors very
suitable for the detection of the acoustic waves induced by the Ultra
High Energy cosmic neutrinos. |
|
| T. Huege, H. Falcke | Simulations of Radio Emission from Cosmic Ray Air Showers |
| Cosmic ray air showers are
known to emit pulsed radio emission in the frequency range from a few to
a few hundred MHz, allowing to carry out cosmic ray research with radio
techniques. We have simulated the radiation mechanism in the scheme of
coherent geosynchrotron radiation with analytic and Monte Carlo
techniques and now present our detailed results. Important findings are the absence of significant asymmetries in the total field strength emission pattern, the polarisation characteristics of the emission, and the dependence of the radio emission on important air shower and observer parameters such as shower zenith angle, primary particle energy, depth of shower maximum and observer position. A parametrisation incorporating the aforementioned dependences summarises our results. |
|
| Dr. Y. Karlik, (St-Petersburg), Dr. V. Svet (Moscow) | Converted Hydroacoustic Array "MG-10M" - Basic Module for a Deep Water ν-Telescope |
| The interest to acoustic ways
of registration neutrinos first of all is caused by a principal
opportunity of creation acoustic ν-telescopes with great volumes of
detecting - up to tens and even hundreds cubic kilometers. Not looking at that such way of detecting has been offered more 40 years ago, in the experimental plan it has not been made practically anything lately and for quite clear reasons. The phased hydroacoustic array is the key element of such telescopes. Existing modern hydroacoustic technologies allow creating similar arrays with very big number of elementary receivers - hydrophones. Approximately the amplification array factor is simply equal to number of hydrophones, and it can make some thousands hydrophones in modern systems of underwater hydroacoustic monitoring. Taking into account very rigid technical requirements of operation of the underwater electronic systems working on the big depths, design, making and installation and of multi-element hydroacoustic array is sufficiently long-term and expensive technology. In fact such array should function not less than 20-25 years, especially, if to take into account, that detecting high-energy neutrinos is rare enough events at least on modern theoretical representations. It is offered as an alternative variant to use already existing hydroacoustic arrays, having earlier operated in the Navy. The system MG-10M is the most suitable array to start the first ocean long-term experimental researches. This system has high enough factor of amplification (more than 1700) in a frequency band of 10-25 kHz, is capable to work on depths up to 400 meters, is compact enough and possesses a high degree of reliability. Key parameters of this system and its necessary completions are considered, mainly connected to transfer all measuring information to the ground equipment. Some estimations of possible detection volume are resulted at use of system as basic module of acoustic ν-telescope. |
|
| Antonio Capone, Giulia De Bonis | Preliminary results on hydrophones calibration with proton beam |
|
We will report about results obtained on hydrophones calibration at the
acoustic test facilities of IDAC-CNR (Rome) and at an intense low-energy
proton beam in ITEP (Moscow). Preliminary results are encouraging for
future detection of high energy showers developed in deep see water.
Recorded acoustic signals have been collected for proton energy
deposition in water close to 0.1 Joule. |
|
| Naoko Kurahashi | SAUND II |
|
SAUND II, the second phase of the SAUND (Study of Acoustic Ultra-high
energy Neutrino Detection) experiment conducted 2001-2002, has just
finished it's initial installation. Many environmental factors have
changed from SAUND I, such as the vast area the hydrophones we plan to
read out will cover, a new hydrophone system that the US Navy has
installed, and their improved sensitivity. Also, some changes were made
to our DAQ system including multiprocess computing, more accurate
timestamping of data by IRIG-B signal feeding, and online coincidence
building. I will talk about both the environmental changes as well as
our system changes, and also discuss noise condition comparison between
SAUND I and initial data of SAUND II. This will include data from the
"light bulb calibration" we have conducted. I will also comment briefly
on a better phase calibration device we are currently in the process of
building. |
|
| M. Ardid, J. Ramis, V. Espinosa, J.A. Martínez-Mora, F. Camarena, J. Alba, V. Sanchez-Morcillo | First Activities in Acoustic Detection of Particles in UPV |
|
We describe the first activities related to acoustic detection of
particles by DISAO (Dispositius I Sistemes Acústics i Òptics)
research group in the Univesitat Politècnica de València. This
group is focused in different fields of acoustic research, although some
people
have some background in experimental particle physics. Consequently,
there is a different view from most of the groups working in particle
detection. We try to apply some techniques from physics, engineering and
oceanographic acoustic to face the problem, mainly focused in two
topics: characterization and calibration of hydrophones, and simulation
of the propagation of the signal in the sea. We present also some
examples in these two topics: calibration using MLS and other kind of
signals, and evaluation of the contribution of the surface noise to the
deep water noise in the Mediterranean Sea. |
|
| S. Böser, A. Hallgren, R.Heller, R.Nahnhauer, M.Pohl, J. Stegmaier | Sensor and Transmitter development for acoustic measurements in ice |
|
Mostly due to the larger velocity of sound in ice as compared to water
the peak pressure amplitude of a thermoacoustic signal will be increased
by about one order of magnitude, making it a good target material for
acoustic neutrino detection. However, in contrast to water, which is a well studied medium in the ultrasound regime with a long history of hydrophone development, the development of ultrasound sensors for ice - called glaciophones - is still in the R&D phase. First attempts at DESY Zeuthen to develop piezoceramic based ultrasound transducers resulted in cheap and sensitive devices. Design considerations and the result of a sensitivity measurement in water will be presented. |
|
| S. Böser, C. Bohm, A. Hallgren, R.Heller, P.O. Hulth, S. Hundertmark, R. Nahnhauer, B. Price, M. Pohl, S. Silverstein, J. Vandenbroucke, M. Walter | SPATS - a South Pole Acoustic Test Setup |
|
Not only the larger expected peak amplitude of thermoacoustically
generated signals makes ice a good target material for acoustic neutrino
detection. Theoretical calculations yield absorption lengthes of several
kilometers and scattering lengthes of up to several hundred
kilometers. However, the many cubic-kilometer sized target volume required for an acoustic neutrino detector restricts possible locations to the antarctic ice shield. As much as is know for the optical parameteries of the south polar ice cap, as little is known for the acoustic properties. Therefore, a dedicated South Pole Acoustic Test Setup (SPATS) will be installed in the polar season 05/06. Principal design considerations as well as the preliminary detector potential to measure velocity of sound, absorption and ambient noise level will be presented. |
|
| Ad M. van den Berg | Neutrino detection in salt domes under LOFAR |
|
The detection of ultra-high energy neutrinos will be one of the corner
stones to solve the issue for the (non-)existence of particle cosmic
rays beyond the GZK limit. Irrespective of the existence of these UHE
particles, neutrinos offer a perfect line of view, back to the sources
of the UHE events in the cosmos. Therefore, UHE neutrino-detector
systems based on the Askaryan effect are presently being used, deployed
and under study. In addition to ice, rock salt has shown to have good
properties with respect to its attenuation length for radio signals in
the 100-1000 MHz regime. In the very near future salt domes from the
Zechstein era in the northern part of the Netherlands will be used for
storage of compressed natural gas. In particular the Zuidwending salt
dome, which has two lobes, has interesting features for detection of UHE
cosmic neutrinos. By coincidence, these salt domes in the Netherlands
are in close proximity with the new digital radio telescope LOFAR which
offers also good opportunities for the detection of UHE cosmic events
using either the Earths atmosphere or the surface of the Moon as
detection material. Preliminary results from the ZESANA (ZEchstein SAlt
Neutrino Array) project will be presented. |
|
| Justin Vandenbroucke | SAUND-1 Processing and Background Rejection |
|
SAUND (Study of Acoustic Ultra-high-energy Neutrino Detection) is a
project that accumulated ~200 days of livetime searching for
neutrino-induced acoustic signals using a Naval hydrophone system in
the Bahamas. I will give a brief introduction to the SAUND experiment.
Then I will describe the Data Acquisition System (hardware and software)
and the light-bulb calibration of the system. I'll end with a
description of waveform classification and noise rejection
techniques. |
|
| Justin Vandenbroucke | Results from SAUND-1 |
|
SAUND (Study of Acoustic Ultra-high-energy Neutrino Detection) is a
project that accumulated ~200 days of livetime searching for
neutrino-induced acoustic signals using a Naval hydrophone system in
the Bahamas. I will describe the acoustic pulse simulation algorithm,
effects of refraction on event reconstruction and neutrino sensitivity,
data reduction techniques, and an example flux limit
calculation. |
|
| J. Vandenbroucke, D. Besson, S. Böser, R. Nahnhauer, B.Price | Capabilities of a Hybrid Optical-Radio-Acoustic Detector at the South Pole |
|
Astrophysical neutrinos at ~EeV promise to be an interesting source for
both astrophysics and particle physics. In particular, detecting the
predicted cosmogenic ("GZK") neutrinos at 10^16 - 10^20 eV would test
models of cosmic ray production at these energies and probe particle
physics at ~100 TeV center-of-mass energy. While IceCube could detect
~1 event per year, it is desired to detect ~10 events per year in order
to study temporal, angular, and spectral distributions. The IceCube
observatory may be able to achieve such event rates with a hybrid
extension including optical, radio, and acoustic receivers. Following
the tradition of detectors at particle accelerators and of the Auger
array, there are distinct advantages of using multiple techniques to
monitor the same interacton region. Such a hybrid detector could use
the well-established optical Cerenkov method to cross-calibrate the
less-established radio and acoustic methods with coincident events while
still achieving high event rates with the newer methods. Hybrid
detection would also improve background rejection and event
reconstruction capabilities. We present results from simulating such a
hybrid detector. |
|