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A multi-cubic-kilometre neutrino telescope in the western Pacific Ocean

Authors :
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.
Publication Year :
2022

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.<br />Comment: 34 pages,12 figures. Correspondence should be addressed to D. L. Xu: donglianxu@sjtu.edu.cn

Details

Database :
arXiv
Publication Type :
Report
Accession number :
edsarx.2207.04519
Document Type :
Working Paper