학술논문
Proposal for a neutrino telescope in South China Sea
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
Cosmic rays were first discovered over a century ago, however the origin of their high-energy component remains elusive. Uncovering astrophysical neutrino sources would provide smoking gun evidence for ultrahigh energy cosmic ray production. The IceCube Neutrino Observatory discovered a diffuse astrophysical neutrino flux in 2013 and observed the first compelling evidence for a high-energy neutrino source in 2017. Next-generation telescopes with improved sensitivity are required to resolve the diffuse flux. 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. A favorable neutrino telescope site was found on an abyssal plain at a depth of $\sim$ 3.5 km. Below 3 km, the sea current speed was measured to be $v_{\mathrm{c}}<$ 10 cm/s, with absorption and scattering lengths for Cherenkov light of $\lambda_{\mathrm{abs} }\simeq$ 27 m and $\lambda_{\mathrm{sca} }\simeq$ 63 m, respectively. Accounting for these measurements, we present the preliminary design and capabilities of a next-generation neutrino telescope, The tRopIcal DEep-sea Neutrino Telescope (TRIDENT). With its advanced photon-detection technologies and size, TRIDENT expects to discover the IceCube steady source candidate NGC 1068 within 2 years of operation. This level of sensitivity will open a new arena for diagnosing the origin of cosmic rays and measuring astronomical neutrino oscillation over fixed baselines.
Comment: 33 pages,16 figures. Correspondence should be addressed to D. L. Xu (donglianxu@sjtu.edu.cn)
Comment: 33 pages,16 figures. Correspondence should be addressed to D. L. Xu (donglianxu@sjtu.edu.cn)