Searches for Ultrahigh Energy Neutrinos with AMANDA

南极μ子和中微子探测器阵列（AMANDA）是世界上首屈一指的高能中微子望远镜。阿曼达打开了一扇以前未被探索的窗口，在能量上跨越了许多数量级，在能量范围内，光和宇宙射线无法充当天文信使。在这样的能量下，中微子是唯一已知的能够发挥这种作用的粒子，如果历史可以为我们提供指导，那么阿曼达中微子望远镜及其计划中的继任者冰立方对如此广阔的、未被探索过的天空区域的空前灵敏度将带来新的、令人兴奋的发现。这一提议关注的是由超高能量中微子产生的一种特殊信号，这种信号被称为“级联”。级联基本上是由冰中的中微子相互作用产生的一个不断膨胀的光球。这种信号的优点是被更好地包含在探测器体积中，因此更容易重建和区分可能的背景。除了创建分析技术来发现AMANDA探测器中的级联信号外，我们还将努力校准探测器并升级其子系统，以提高其级联灵敏度。本科生和研究生将与博士后、私家侦探和其他研究人员一起进行这项研究。通过一项针对女本科生的指导计划，将共同努力，包括在这项研究和一般物理学中代表性不足的群体。

The Antarctic Muon and Neutrino Detector Array (AMANDA) is the world's premier high energy neutrino telescope. AMANDA opens a previously unexplored window on the universe spanning many orders of magnitude in energy, a range in energy where light and cosmic-rays are unable to serve as astronomical messengers. At these energies, neutrinos are the only known particles that can play that role, and if history is our guide, the unprecedented sensitivity of the AMANDA neutrino telescope-and of its planned successor, IceCube-to such a vast, unexplored region of the sky will lead to new and exciting discoveries.This proposal focuses on a particular signal created by ultrahigh energy neutrinos, a signal known as a "cascade." A cascade is basically an expanding ball of light created by a neutrino interaction in the ice. This signal has the advantage of being better contained in the detector volume and hence easier to reconstruct and distinguish from possible backgrounds. In addition to creating analysis techniques to discover cascade signals in the AMANDA detector, we will also endeavor to calibrate the detector and upgrade its subsystems in order to enhance its cascade sensitivity. Undergraduate and graduate students will work with postdoctoral fellows, the P.I. and others in this research. A concerted effort will be made to include underrepresented groups, both in this research and in physics in general, through a mentoring program for female undergraduates.