Tethered Balloons for Radio Detection of Neutrinos?

TL;DR

This paper explores the potential of tethered balloons for neutrino detection, assessing their sensitivity, feasibility, and possible deployment locations, as an alternative to traditional long-duration balloon platforms.

Contribution

It introduces the concept of tethered balloons for neutrino detection, analyzing their sensitivity and feasibility across various locations and detection channels.

Findings

Tethered balloons can achieve longer livetimes than traditional balloons.

Sensitivity estimates suggest potential for neutrino detection.

Feasibility varies with location and detection method.

Abstract

The long-duration balloon platform for radio detection of energetic neutrinos, pioneered by ANITA, affords large instantaneous effective areas but has limited livetime. Conversely, tethered balloons, traditionally used for radio detection of non-science objectives (such as electronic surveillance), allow for much longer livetimes, albeit at significantly lower altitudes. In this contribution, a tethered balloon platform for neutrino detection is considered, including estimates of the neutrino sensitivity and a discussion the feasibility of such a platform. Both the Askaryan and tau-neutrino induced Extensive Air Shower channels are explored as target science data for the platform. Tethered balloons locations on ice sheets, land, and in steep valleys or fjords will be considered. Ground-based array calibration and cosmic-ray air shower use cases will also be briefly commented on.