The Giant Radio Array for Neutrino Detection (GRAND): Science and Design

TL;DR

GRAND is a planned large-scale radio array designed to detect ultra-high-energy cosmic particles, aiming to uncover the origins of cosmic rays and discover new neutrinos and gamma rays with unprecedented sensitivity.

Contribution

This paper introduces the design, science goals, and construction plan of GRAND, a novel modular radio array for ultra-high-energy particle detection.

Findings

Design achieves large coverage with 20 sub-arrays of 10,000 antennas each.

Expected to detect unprecedented numbers of UHE cosmic rays and neutrinos.

Staged construction plan validates detection techniques early.

Abstract

The Giant Radio Array for Neutrino Detection (GRAND) is a planned large-scale observatory of ultra-high-energy (UHE) cosmic particles, with energies exceeding 10^8 GeV. Its goal is to solve the long-standing mystery of the origin of UHE cosmic rays. To do this, GRAND will detect an unprecedented number of UHE cosmic rays and search for the undiscovered UHE neutrinos and gamma rays associated to them with unmatched sensitivity. GRAND will use large arrays of antennas to detect the radio emission coming from extensive air showers initiated by UHE particles in the atmosphere. Its design is modular: 20 separate, independent sub-arrays, each of 10 000 radio antennas deployed over 10 000 km^2. A staged construction plan will validate key detection techniques while achieving important science goals early. Here we present the science goals, detection strategy, preliminary design, performance goals, and construction plans for GRAND.