NuMoon: Status of ultra high energy particle searches with LOFAR
Ter Veen S, Buitink S, Corstanje A, Enriquez JE, Falcke H, Hörandel JR, Nelles A, Rachen JP, Rossetto L, Schellart P, Scholten O, Thoudam S, Trinh TN (2015)
Publication Type: Conference contribution
Publication year: 2015
Journal
Publisher: Proceedings of Science (PoS)
Book Volume: 30-July-2015
Conference Proceedings Title: Proceedings of Science
Event location: The Hague, NLD
Abstract
The lunar Askaryan technique is one of the few ways to obtain a large enough collecting area to detect ultra high energy cosmic rays and neutrinos at the highest end of the known spectrum, above 1021 eV. The flux of these particles is unknown, but if they are found they either point back to the best cosmic accelerators or they can be the products of the decay of exotic particles such as cosmic strings. Using the lunar Askaryan technique means searching for radio signals created by a particle shower that is induced when an ultra high energy particle collides with the Moon. The large collecting area that the Moon offers can especially be used at frequencies between 100-200 MHz, where the radiation is spread out over a wider angle and thus more of the lunar surface can be used for a possible detection. The NuMoon project therefore observes the Moon at these frequencies to search for nanosecond pulses. A first project with the Westerbork Synthesis Radio Telescope has placed the most stringent upper limits on the flux of ultra high energy cosmic rays and neutrinos. The next step is to observe with LOFAR, currently one of the most sensitive low frequency telescopes. In this contribution I will present the status and plans of the project.
Authors with CRIS profile
Involved external institutions
Radboud University Nijmegen
Netherlands (NL)
Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB)
Belgium (BE)
University of Groningen / Rijksuniversiteit Groningen
Netherlands (NL)
Netherlands (NL)
Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB)
Belgium (BE)
University of Groningen / Rijksuniversiteit Groningen
Netherlands (NL)
How to cite
APA:
Ter Veen, S., Buitink, S., Corstanje, A., Enriquez, J.E., Falcke, H., Hörandel, J.R.,... Trinh, T.N. (2015). NuMoon: Status of ultra high energy particle searches with LOFAR. In Proceedings of Science. The Hague, NLD: Proceedings of Science (PoS).
MLA:
Ter Veen, S., et al. "NuMoon: Status of ultra high energy particle searches with LOFAR." Proceedings of the 34th International Cosmic Ray Conference, ICRC 2015, The Hague, NLD Proceedings of Science (PoS), 2015.
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