Celestial Neutrino Beacons: Neutrinos as Probes of the Extreme Universe
Name of applicant
Markus Tobias Ahlers
Title
Associate Professor
Institution
University of Copenhagen
Amount
DKK 6,996,333
Year
2025
Type of grant
Semper Ardens: Accelerate
What?
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?
Why?
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.
How?
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.