학술논문
A multi-cubic-kilometre neutrino telescope in the western Pacific Ocean
Document Type
Working Paper
Author
Ye, Z. P.; Hu, F.; Tian, W.; Chang, Q. C.; Chang, Y. L.; Cheng, Z. S.; Gao, J.; Ge, T.; Gong, G. H.; Guo, J.; Guo, X. X.; He, X. G.; Huang, J. T.; Jiang, K.; Jiang, P. K.; Jing, Y. P.; Li, H. L.; Li, J. L.; Li, L.; Li, W. L.; Li, Z.; Liao, N. Y.; Lin, Q.; Liu, F.; Liu, J. L.; Liu, X. H.; Miao, P.; Mo, C.; Morton-Blake, I.; Peng, T.; Sun, Z. Y.; Tang, J. N.; Tang, Z. B.; Tao, C. H.; Tian, X. L.; Wang, M. X.; Wang, Y.; Wei, H. D.; Wei, Z. Y.; Wu, W. H.; Xian, S. S.; Xiang, D.; Xu, D. L.; Xue, Q.; Yang, J. H.; Yang, J. M.; Yu, W. B.; Zeng, C.; Zhang, F. Y. D.; Zhang, T.; Zhang, X. T.; Zhang, Y. Y.; Zhi, W.; Zhong, Y. S.; Zhou, M.; Zhu, X. H.; Zhuang, G. J.
Source
Subject
Language
Abstract
Next-generation neutrino telescopes with significantly improved sensitivity are required to pinpoint the sources of the diffuse astrophysical neutrino flux detected by IceCube and uncover the century-old puzzle of cosmic ray origins. A detector near the equator will provide a unique viewpoint of the neutrino sky, complementing IceCube and other neutrino telescopes in the Northern Hemisphere. Here we present results from an expedition to the north-eastern region of the South China Sea, in the western Pacific Ocean. A favorable neutrino telescope site was found on an abyssal plain at a depth of $\sim$ 3.5km. At depths below 3km, the sea current speed, water absorption and scattering lengths for Cherenkov light, were measured to be $v_{\mathrm{c}}<$10cm/s, $\lambda_{\mathrm{abs} }\simeq$ 27m and $\lambda_{\mathrm{sca} }\simeq$ 63m, respectively. Accounting for these measurements, we present the design and expected performance of a next-generation neutrino telescope, TRopIcal DEep-sea Neutrino Telescope (TRIDENT). With its advanced photon-detection technology and large dimensions, TRIDENT expects to observe the IceCube steady source candidate NGC 1068 with 5$\sigma$ significance within 1 year of operation. This level of sensitivity will open a new arena for diagnosing the origin of cosmic rays and probing fundamental physics over astronomical baselines.
Comment: 34 pages,12 figures. Correspondence should be addressed to D. L. Xu: donglianxu@sjtu.edu.cn
Comment: 34 pages,12 figures. Correspondence should be addressed to D. L. Xu: donglianxu@sjtu.edu.cn