The NuMoon experiment: first results

TL;DR

The NuMoon experiment searches for ultra high energy cosmic particles via radio pulses from the Moon, setting new limits on neutrino flux with initial data analysis from Westerbork Telescope.

Contribution

First analysis of NuMoon data demonstrating the potential to improve neutrino flux limits using lunar radio pulse detection.

Findings

Set a new upper limit on neutrino flux.

Analyzed 10 hours of observational data.

Demonstrated feasibility of lunar radio pulse detection for cosmic particles.

Abstract

The NuMoon project uses the Westerbork Synthesis Radio Telescope to search for short radio pulses from the Moon. These pulses are created when an ultra high energy cosmic ray or neutrino initiates a particle cascade inside the Moon's regolith. The cascade has a negative charge excess and moves faster than the local speed of light, which causes coherent Cherenkov radiation to be emitted. With 100 hours of data, a limit on the neutrino flux can be set that is an order of magnitude better than the current one (based on FORTE). We present an analysis of the first 10 hours of data.