Acoustic Neutrino Detection in Ice: Past, Present, and Future

TL;DR

Acoustic neutrino detection in ice offers a promising method for observing ultra-high energy neutrinos, leveraging multi-sensor setups and cross calibration, with ongoing development and deployment efforts at the South Pole.

Contribution

This paper reviews the development, current status, and future prospects of acoustic neutrino detection in ice, including site studies, sensor design, and integration with existing detectors.

Findings

SPATS has provided valuable site exploration data.

Acoustic detection can complement radio and optical methods.

Current projects are advancing sensor technology and deployment strategies.

Abstract

Acoustic neutrino detection is a promising technique to instrument the large volumes required to measure the small expected flux of ultra-high energy cosmogenic neutrinos. Using ice as detection medium allows for coincident detection of neutrino interactions with acoustic sensors, radio antennas and optical light sensors with the benefit of cross calibration possibilities or independent measurements of the the same event. We review the past development of the field and discuss its current status and challenges. Results from site exploration studies, mainly by the South Pole Acoustic Test Setup (SPATS) which has been codeployed with the IceCube neutrino telescope at South Pole, and current physics results are presented. Current ideas for the design, calibration, and deployment of acoustic sensors for new projects are shown. The possible role of the acoustic technique in future in-ice neutrino detectors is discussed.