Analyzing the Reactions ⊽ (cosmic ray) + v (relic) → e++ e- and p (cosmic ray) + ⊽ (relic) → e+ + n on Their Effects to the Energy Spectrum of Cosmic Ray Neutrinos and Protons
Session Number
Project ID: PHYS 07
Advisor(s)
Dr. Jen-Chieh Peng, University of Illinois Urbana Champaign
Discipline
Physical Science
Start Date
17-4-2024 8:55 AM
End Date
17-4-2024 9:10 AM
Abstract
Relic neutrinos are some of the oldest particles in the universe, produced around 1 second after the big bang. Locating these relic neutrinos may help answer fundamental questions about the universe such as how it began. There have been attempts to study these relic neutrinos, with one proposed method being the KATRIN experiment. In our work, we hope to use high-energy cosmic rays as probes to detect relic neutrinos. We propose to analyze the reactions ⊽ (cosmic ray) + v (relic) → e++ e- and p (cosmic ray) + ⊽ (relic) → e+ + n on their effects on the energy spectrum of cosmic ray neutrinos and protons. We aim to investigate the effects of these two reactions on altering the energy spectra of cosmic neutrinos and cosmic protons. Through this study, we analyzed the feasibility of detecting relic neutrinos through a precise measurement of the energy spectrum of high-energy cosmic rays. While the cross sections are extremely small, they will increase with increasing energy from cosmic rays. This provides that the highest energy cosmic rays will give the best chance at producing observable signals of relic neutrinos. By using high-energy cosmic rays, we might be able to detect a relic neutrino.
Analyzing the Reactions ⊽ (cosmic ray) + v (relic) → e++ e- and p (cosmic ray) + ⊽ (relic) → e+ + n on Their Effects to the Energy Spectrum of Cosmic Ray Neutrinos and Protons
Relic neutrinos are some of the oldest particles in the universe, produced around 1 second after the big bang. Locating these relic neutrinos may help answer fundamental questions about the universe such as how it began. There have been attempts to study these relic neutrinos, with one proposed method being the KATRIN experiment. In our work, we hope to use high-energy cosmic rays as probes to detect relic neutrinos. We propose to analyze the reactions ⊽ (cosmic ray) + v (relic) → e++ e- and p (cosmic ray) + ⊽ (relic) → e+ + n on their effects on the energy spectrum of cosmic ray neutrinos and protons. We aim to investigate the effects of these two reactions on altering the energy spectra of cosmic neutrinos and cosmic protons. Through this study, we analyzed the feasibility of detecting relic neutrinos through a precise measurement of the energy spectrum of high-energy cosmic rays. While the cross sections are extremely small, they will increase with increasing energy from cosmic rays. This provides that the highest energy cosmic rays will give the best chance at producing observable signals of relic neutrinos. By using high-energy cosmic rays, we might be able to detect a relic neutrino.