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Anomalous Radio Signals From Below Antarctic Ice Defy Particle Physics

After ruling out neutrinos as the source, researchers are developing a larger detector called PUEO to explore potential new particles.

The unusual radio pulses were detected by the Antarctic Impulsive Transient Antenna (ANITA) experiment, a range of instruments flown on balloons high above Antarctica that are designed to detect radio waves from cosmic rays hitting the atmosphere. (Credit: Stephanie Wissel / Penn State)
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ANITA was placed in Antarctica because there is little chance of interference from other signals; to capture the emission signals, the balloon-borne radio detector is sent to fly over stretches of ice, capturing what are called ice showers. Image credit: Stephanie Wissel / Penn State.

Overview

  • ANITA has recorded multiple steep-angle upward-going radio pulses from beneath the Antarctic ice that cannot be explained by reflections
  • The findings published in Physical Review Letters ruled out neutrinos as the origin after cross-referencing data from IceCube and the Pierre Auger Observatory
  • The anomalous signals imply passage through thousands of kilometers of rock, a scenario inconsistent with standard physics models
  • The research team is considering dark matter-related theories, noting that lack of confirmation from other detectors narrows possible explanations
  • To investigate further, Penn State scientists are designing and building PUEO, a larger balloon-borne detector with enhanced sensitivity