Speaker
Description
Cosmic rays were discovered over a century ago, but the sources of the highest energy components remain unknown. Next-generation neutrino telescopes with significantly improved sensitivity are needed to identify the sources of the diffuse astrophysical neutrinos detected by IceCube, and help decipher the origin of high-energy cosmic rays. The TRopIcal DEep-sea Neutrino Telescope (TRIDENT) will cover approximately 8 km³ of seawater with digital optical modules positioned 3.5 km deep in the western Pacific Ocean. Utilizing advanced photon-detection technology and its large size, TRIDENT aims to observe the IceCube steady source candidate NGC 1068 at 5σ within one year of operation. This sensitivity will enable new insights into the origins of cosmic rays and probe fundamental physics over astronomical distances. This presentation covers the experiment's design, current status, and future prospects, with a pilot project involving ten strings for a technology demonstration scheduled for 2026.
