Celestial Neutrino Beacons: Neutrinos as Probes of the Extreme Universe
Navn på bevillingshaver
Markus Tobias Ahlers
Titel
Associate Professor
Institution
University of Copenhagen
Beløb
DKK 6,996,333
År
2025
Bevillingstype
Semper Ardens: Accelerate
Hvad?
Neutrino astronomy has started to transform our understanding of the Universe. In the past decade, large-scale neutrino telescopes, in particular the IceCube Observatory, have begun observing high-energy astrophysical neutrinos, a breakthrough that proofed the existence of powerful cosmic "neutrino beacons." But what are the mechanisms behind the observed neutrino signals?
Hvorfor?
Neutrinos are unique cosmic messengers. Unlike light, they can travel unhindered across vast distances and emerge from regions that are otherwise opaque, allowing us to probe the most extreme cosmic environments. They provide a unique window into the origin of "cosmic rays" - energetic charged particles from the Universe that have been a mystery for more than a century.
Hvordan?
We will investigate the origin of astrophysical neutrinos via comprehensive theoretical modelling of plausible sources, accounting for their simultaneous emission of cosmic rays and light - so-called "multi-messenger" astronomy. In combination with advanced Machine Learning algorithms, we will perform innovative IceCube data analyses revealing the nature of neutrino sources.