From the Dawn of Neutrino Astronomy to A New View of the Extreme Universe

TL;DR

This paper reviews the progress and future prospects of neutrino astronomy, highlighting key open questions, experimental challenges, and the importance of global collaboration for transformative discoveries in understanding the extreme universe.

Contribution

It identifies seven major open questions in neutrino astrophysics and discusses the need for a global, collaborative network of detectors to enable future breakthroughs.

Findings

Detection of astrophysical high-energy neutrinos and identification of sources

Critical review of current experimental capabilities and limitations

Proposal for a collaborative, multimessenger neutrino telescope network

Abstract

Over the past decade, neutrino astronomy has emerged as a new window into the extreme and hidden universe. Current-generation experiments have detected high-energy neutrinos of astrophysical origin and identified the first sources, opening the field to discovery. Looking ahead, the authors of this Perspective identify seven major open questions in neutrino astrophysics and particle physics that could lead to transformative discoveries over the next 20 years. These multidisciplinary questions range from understanding the vicinity of a black hole to unveiling the nature of neutrino mass, among other topics. Additionally, we critically review the current experimental capabilities and their limitations and, from there, discuss the interplay between different proposed neutrino telescope technologies and analysis techniques. The authors firmly believe that achieving the immense discovery potential over the next two decades demands a model of global partnership and specialized, complementary detectors. This collaborative neutrino telescope network will pave the way for a thriving multimessenger era, transforming our understanding of neutrino physics, astrophysics, and the extreme universe.