Nov 5: Robert Stein (Joint Space-Science Institute) on Optical Counterparts to High-Energy Neutrinos
High-energy 'cosmic' neutrinos were first discovered by IceCube in 2013, launching the field of neutrino astronomy, and an active hunt to unveil the origin of these particles. Multi-messenger searches with telescopes across the EM spectrum have been successful in identifying a handful of candidate neutrino sources, through targeted follow-up of individual high-energy neutrino alerts from IceCube.
The most sensitive program to date at optical wavelengths is that operated by Zwicky Transient Facility (ZTF), which has conducted over 50 individual follow-up campaigns since 2018. I will describe the results of the ZTF program, including the recent discovery of an interacting supernova (SN2023uqf) coincident with a high-energy neutrino.Â
I will also describe the expanding network of multi-messenger instruments conducting follow-up, including the newly commissioned Vera C Rubin Observatory.