Ultra-high Energy Neutrinos

Using some of the highest energy particles in the Universe to learn about particle physics and astrophysics.

PUEO in Antarctica

The Payload for Ultrahigh Energy Observations (PUEO) is the latest balloon-borne neutrino telescope. The experiment turns an entire continent, Antarctica, into a gigantic telescope looking for the highest energy neutrinos in the Universe. The experiment consists of an array of antennas dangling from a balloon almost 40km above the ice of Antarctica, listening for the characteristic radio chirps that would indicate neutrinos interacting in the deep ice below.

Prof. Ryan Nichol has been involved with PUEO and its predecessor, ANITA, for more than 20 years. The UCL group were responsible for designing the data storage for the experiment, which needs to survive the extreme temperatures and mechanical challenges of a long-duration balloon flight in Antarctica. The team contributed to integration and deployment in Antarctica in the Austral summer of 2025/26, and will be active in operation and analysis.

For more information, contact Ryan Nichol.

P-ONE in the Pacific

The Pacific Ocean Neutrino Experiment (P-ONE) is in the process of building a gigantic underwater neutrino telescope, in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Canada. The experiment will look for the optical Cherenkov light produced by secondary charge particles that result from neutrinos interacting in the deep ocean.

Dr Matteo Agostini is the Physics Coordinator for P-ONE. The UCL group is working closely with colleagues in astrophysics to understand how next generation neutrino telescope experiments, such as P-ONE, can use neutrino measurements to understand both particle physics and astrophysics.

For more information, contact Matteo Agostini.