Prospects of Probing the Radio Emission of Lunar UHECRv Events

TL;DR

This paper evaluates the potential for detecting ultra-high-energy cosmic ray and neutrino events on the Moon using radio antennas, highlighting the feasibility and technical requirements for future lunar missions.

Contribution

It develops an analysis of lunar UHECRv detection aperture, including sub-layer events, and assesses detection capabilities of different antenna configurations.

Findings

Dozens of UHECRv events detectable annually at energies of 10^18 to 10^23 eV.

A 3-meter antenna above the lunar surface can detect lower energy events (10^15 to 10^18 eV).

Detection is feasible with minimal equipment onboard lunar orbiters or landers.

Abstract

Radio detection of Ultra High Energetic Cosmic Rays and Neutrinos (UHECRv) which hit the Moon has been investigated in recent years. In preparation for near-future lunar science missions, we discuss technical requirements for radio experiments onboard lunar orbiters or on a lunar lander. We also develop an analysis of UHECRv aperture by including UHECv events occurring in the sub-layers of lunar regolith. It is verified that even using a single antenna onboard lunar orbiters or a few meters above the Moon's surface, dozens of lunar UHECRv events are detectable for one-year of observation at energy levels of $10^{18}$ eV to $10^{23}$ eV. Furthermore, it is shown that an antenna 3 meters above the Moon's surface could detect lower energy lunar UHECR events at the level of $10^{15}$ eV to $10^{18}$ eV which might not be detectable from lunar orbiters or ground-based observations.