Physics & Astronomy Colloquium

Speaker: Carl Pfendner (Ohio State University)

Title: Ultrahigh Energy Neutrinos: Cosmic Ghosts and How to Bust Them

Abstract: With the recent detection of extragalactic neutrinos, the age of neutrino astronomy is dawning and has a bright future. However, a flux of even rarer astrophysical neutrinos is predicted at energies three orders of magnitude higher than those already observed. Understanding this flux of ultrahigh energy neutrinos will help provide answers to questions about not only the flux of neutrinos itself, but also the composition and sources of ultrahigh energy cosmic rays, cosmic evolution, and even particle physics at the most extreme energies in the universe. Before we even try to answer these questions, we need to detect them first. I will discuss ongoing and developing experiments that aim to measure the flux of these neutrinos, particularly those using the radio Cherenkov technique. I will present the methods and results of recent searches for these ultrahigh energy neutrinos and the prospects for the future, with particular emphasis on the Askaryan Radio Array.

The colloquia will be preceded by light refreshments in GL227 from 3:30 – 3:45p.m.

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