The measurement of ultra-high-energy neutrinos is a long-standing quest in astroparticle physics. Neutrinos of these extreme energies are produced inside the sources of cosmic rays (CRS) and when…

This federal contract award, identified as 80NSSC19K0627, was granted by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to the Georgia Tech Research Corporation, doing business as the Office of Sponsored Programs. The $1,100,473.74 award, which does not have a set-aside designation, is for a research project focused on the development and testing of a photosensor and signal chain for a wide-angle Schmidt optics instrument capable of detecting ultra-high-energy neutrinos. This work aims to advance the space readiness of silicon photomultipliers, which have applications beyond neutrino detection for various proposed space missions. As a leading public research university with extensive experience in federal contracts and grants, Georgia Tech Research Corporation is well-positioned to deliver this specialized research and engineering support to NASA.

The measurement of ultra-high-energy neutrinos is a long-standing quest in astroparticle physics. Neutrinos of these extreme energies are produced inside the sources of cosmic rays (CRS) and when CRS of the highest energies collide with cosmic microwave background photons. They help US identify the origin of CRS and tell US about the CR composition. The elusive nature of neutrinos and their low fluxes require large detector volumes, for example, by observing the atmosphere from balloons and space. We prototype and test the photosensor and signal chain of a camera for a wide-angle schmidt optics that can be deployed on a balloon or a satellite to detect neutrinos. Such an instrument detects flashes of cherenkov light in the atmosphere, which are the remnants of TAU neutrinos interacting in the earth. The signal chain uses siliconphotomultipliers as photosensors and aget asics as readout chips. The siliconphotomultiplier is a relatively new detector concept but, nevertheless, widely used in a vast number of applications. IT has features, which are of interest not only for the detection of neutrinos but other space missions as well. IT is low mass, compact, and robust. Objectives of this project include a thorough investigation of the signal chain in the lab and in the field. The results of this work help to advance the space readiness of siliconphotomultipliers, which is of interest for several proposed missions beyond the detection of neutrinos.