RICE
RADIO ICE CERENKOV EXPERIMENT
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- Proposed: Jun 26, 2002,
- Approved: Jun 12, 2002,
- Started: Dec 15, 2003,
- Completed: May 15, 2004
RICE Collaboration
Cosmic rays have historically been the source of much of our information about the extraterrestrial world. It is believed that among the most energetic cosmic rays are those which may be produced by massive black holes which could exist at the centers of some galaxies (aka Active Galactic Nuclei, or AGN). Additional ultra-high energy neutrinos may be produced by the (as-yet-unidentified) process responsible for the ultra-high energy cosmic rays observed in present Extensive Air Shower experiments, and anticipated for the future Auger Project. The Fly's Eye Experiment in Utah has confirmed that particles of energy as high as 10^20 eV are, indeed, present in the cosmic ray flux. We describe a new experimental effort to detect ultra high energy electron neutrinos through their interactions with ice molecules in the Antarctic icecap, based on the principle of radio coherence. Experimentally, we measure a long-wavelength (radiofrequency) pulse resulting from this interaction. A prototype experiment Radio Ice Cerenkov Experiment, or (RICE) presently operating at the South Pole is described. This experimental effort has been made possible only through the cooperation, assistance, and support of the AMANDA collaboration, and the financial support of the National Science Foundation's Office of Polar Programs, the State of Kansas, and the Cottrell Research Corporation.
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