ANITA Detects UHE Radio Signals Defying Standard Model Predictions
ANITA Detects UHE Radio Signals Defying Standard Model Predictions
The Antarctic Impulsive Transient Antenna (ANITA) experiment, designed to detect high-energy cosmic neutrinos, has registered anomalous upward-traveling radio pulses originating from deep within the Earth. These signals, detailed in Physical Review Letters, violate established particle physics models, as such pulses should be absorbed by the Earth’s crust before detection.
ANITA’s balloon-borne detectors, positioned 30-39 km above Antarctica, observed pulses at steep angles (≈30° below the ice surface), implying a trajectory through ~6000-7000 km of rock. This is inconsistent with known neutrino interactions and their associated particle showers (both “ice showers” and “air showers”).
Data analysis ruled out conventional sources, including cosmic rays and known particle interactions. Comparisons with IceCube and Pierre Auger Observatory data yielded no matching anomalies. The origin of these signals remains unknown, and they definitively aren’t neutrinos.
The Penn State team, currently developing the Payload for Ultrahigh Energy Observation (PUEO) mission, hypothesizes potential radio propagation effects near the ice or horizon as a possible (though currently unconfirmed) explanation. PUEO’s improved sensitivity is expected to provide further data, potentially clarifying the nature of these anomalies and potentially even detecting high-energy neutrinos.
Disclaimer: This content is aggregated from public sources online. Please verify information independently. If you believe your rights have been infringed, contact us for removal.