Optimization of Radio Detectors of Ultra-High-Energy Neutrinos through Deep Learning and Differential Programming

Introduction

Detection of neutrinos at ultra-high energies (UHE, E >10^17eV) would be one of the most important breakthroughs in astroparticle physics in the 21st century and would open a new window to the most violent phenomena in our universe. Radio detection remains the only viable technique at these energies.

Challenges in Detection

However, owing to the expected small flux of UHE neutrinos, the detection rate will be small, with just a handful of events per year, even for large future facilities like the IceCube-Gen2 neutrino observatory at the South Pole.

Project Goals

In this project, I will enhance the science capabilities of UHE neutrino detectors substantially by:

1. Increasing the detection rate of neutrinos.
2. Improving the quality of each detected event.

This will be achieved using recent advances in deep learning and differential programming.

Methodology

I will replace the threshold-based trigger foreseen for future detectors with neural networks, increasing the detection rate of UHE neutrinos by a factor of two at negligible additional hardware costs.

Additionally, I will perform an end-to-end optimization using differential programming and deep learning to improve the determination of the neutrino direction and energy.

Background and Experience

My previous work on developing state-of-the-art MC simulation codes, my experience in data analysis, designing reconstruction algorithms and deep learning, and my leadership role in IceCube-Gen2 will enable this ERC project.

Timing and Impact

The timing of this project is perfect for influencing IceCube-Gen2 - the largest facility for astroparticle physics with neutrinos for the next decade - whose construction is planned to start in 2027.

With this ERC project, IceCube-Gen2 will be able to:

1. Expedite the discovery of UHE neutrino fluxes by up to a factor of five.
2. See sources from deeper in our Universe, increasing the observable volume by a factor of three.
3. Measure the neutrino-nucleon cross-section at EeV energies with 3x smaller uncertainty.

Hence, NuRadioOpt will substantially increase the capabilities of future observatories for UHE neutrinos.