Radio Detection of Neutrinos from Behind a Mountain

TL;DR

This paper investigates a novel radio detection method for ultra-high-energy neutrinos using directional antennas to identify neutrino interactions behind mountains, offering a potentially versatile and background-suppressed detection technique.

Contribution

It introduces a new approach employing high gain directional radio antennas to detect neutrinos in mountain or crust environments, expanding detection options beyond optical methods.

Findings

Potential for low-threshold neutrino detection.

Background suppression through antenna directionality.

Deployment flexibility at various geographic locations.

Abstract

We explore the sensitivity of a neutrino detector employing strongly directional high gain radio antennae to detect the conversion of neutrinos above $10^{16}$ eV in a mountain or the earth crust. The directionality of the antennae will allow both, the low threshold and the suppression of background. This technology would have the advantage that it does not require a suitable atmosphere as optical detectors do and could therefore be deployed at any promising place on the planet. In particular one could choose suitable topographies at latitudes that are matched to promising source candidates.