Prof Raymond J. Protheroe (University of Adelaide)

How UHE neutrino astronomy may solve the UHE cosmic ray origin mystery - Prof Raymond J. Protheroe Colloquium

ATNF Basement Meeting Room

Abstract

The cosmic ray energy spectrum extends up to at least 10^20 eV (16
Joule). At the highest energies, their origin is unknown. Their
arrival directions do not necessarily point to their sources because
of deflection in cosmic magnetic fields, and their energy spectrum is
eroded by collisions with cosmic microwave photons if they travel for
longer than 0.03 Gyr. During acceleration and traveling through space
neutrinos are produced in these same collisions. Being undeflected
and very weakly interacting these neutrinos can tell us about the
origin of UHE cosmic rays, and possibly about intergalactic magnetic
field. I will discuss these issues, and previous attempts to observe
UHE neutrinos, including the plans of the LUNASKA collaboration to use
the lunar radio-Cherenkov technique pioneered by Ekers et al.