Title: Hunting High Energy Neutrinos with Balloons
Abstract — High energy neutrinos provide a unique window into observations of the most violent physical phenomena in the universe while simultaneously probing particle physics far beyond man-made accelerator capabilities. At the highest energies, the flux of these particles at Earth is incredibly low, making direct detection challenging, a problem which is further compounded by their miniscule interaction probabilities. By measuring emission from particle cascades sourced from neutrino interactions, it is possible to cost-effectively instrument large detection volumes and improve the chances of observation. In this talk, I will detail the method of indirect detection of high energy neutrinos through the measurement of optical Cherenkov and radio emission, highlighting the strengths and weaknesses of the techniques. I will describe many of the active experimental efforts which hunt for neutrinos these observation strategies, putting specific emphasis on 2 high-altitude balloon payloads under active development: the Payload for Ultra-high Energy Observations (PUEO) and the Probe Of Extreme Multi-Messsenger Astrophysics on a Balloon with Radio (PBR). I will show the unique measurements these experiments are capable of making and where they fit within the landscape of high-energy multi-messenger astronomy.
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