WOU-MMA: pacific ocean neutrino experiment data analysis and software infrastructure

The National Science Foundation Division of Physics awarded Michigan State University $809,961 on September 1, 2026, under the Mathematical and Physical Sciences program (CFDA 47.049) to develop software infrastructure and data analysis methods for the Pacific Ocean Neutrino Experiment (P-ONE), a high-energy neutrino telescope under construction in the Northeast Pacific Ocean west of Seattle.

The award funds development of software to process and analyze P-ONE detector data, including new edge artificial intelligence methods and analysis of the detector's first observations to measure and improve its performance. P-ONE is expected to identify up to ten times more high-energy neutrino sources beyond our galaxy than the NSF-supported IceCube observatory, which made the first discovery of high-energy extragalactic neutrinos. The work addresses a major scientific priority in U.S. astronomy and particle physics planning by enabling new discoveries about the high-energy universe while supporting U.S. leadership in neutrino astronomy.

The award period runs from September 1, 2026, through August 31, 2027. Work is performed at Michigan State University in East Lansing, Michigan. Sub-awards are planned under this award.

Abstract

Twelve years ago, the NSF-supported icecube neutrino observatory made the first discovery of high-energy neutrinos arriving from beyond our galaxy. This breakthrough opened a new way to study the distant, high-energy universe, much of which cannot be observed with light alone. However, scientists still do not know exactly where or how these neutrinos are produced. They are thought to come from the universe's most powerful and energetic events, but the specific sources and physical processes remain unknown. Answering these questions requires a new generation of more sensitive and precise neutrino detectors. The pacific ocean neutrino experiment (P-one), the first high-energy neutrino telescope in north america, is now under construction in the northeast pacific ocean, west of seattle. P-one is expected to transform our view of the neutrino sky by identifying up to ten times more sources outside our galaxy than icecube. This capability addresses a major scientific priority identified in recent U.S. Astronomy and particle physics planning reports. This award supports the development of the software needed to process and analyze P-one data, including new edge artificial intelligence (AI) methods and the analysis of the detector's first observations to measure and improve its performance. These efforts will enable new discoveries about the high-energy universe while helping maintain U.S. Leadership in neutrino astronomy. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.- subawards are planned for this award.