Sensitivity of a proposed space-based Cerenkov astrophysical-neutrino telescope (CHANT)

TL;DR

The paper evaluates the potential of the space-based CHANT telescope to detect ultra-high-energy astrophysical neutrinos through Cherenkov radiation, highlighting its sensitivity across a broad energy spectrum and its capability to study cosmogenic neutrino flux.

Contribution

It introduces a novel space-based Cherenkov telescope design, CHANT, and assesses its sensitivity for detecting PeV to EeV neutrinos from space.

Findings

CHANT can detect neutrinos from 10 PeV to 10 EeV.

Space-based CHANT can study cosmogenic neutrino flux.

The system offers sufficient sensitivity for astrophysical neutrino flux analysis.

Abstract

Neutrinos with energies in the PeV to EeV range produce upgoing extensive air showers when they interact underground close enough to the surface of the Earth. We study the possibility for detection of such showers with a system of very wide field-of-view imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes, named CHANT for CHerenkov from Astrophysical Neutrinos Telescope, pointing down to a strip below the Earth's horizon from space. We find that CHANT provides sufficient sensitivity for the study of the astrophysical neutrino flux in a wide energy range, from 10 PeV to 10 EeV. A space-based CHANT system can discover and study in detail the cosmogenic neutrino flux originating from interactions of ultra-high-energy cosmic rays in the intergalactic medium.