𝝂SpaceSim: A Comprehensive Simulation Package for Modeling the Measurement of Cosmic Neutrinos using the Earth as the Neutrino Target and Space-based Detectors

Mary Hall Reno; John F Krizmanic

doi:10.48550/arxiv.2509.15469

Back

𝝂SpaceSim: A Comprehensive Simulation Package for Modeling the Measurement of Cosmic Neutrinos using the Earth as the Neutrino Target and Space-based Detectors

Preprint

Open access

𝝂SpaceSim: A Comprehensive Simulation Package for Modeling the Measurement of Cosmic Neutrinos using the Earth as the Neutrino Target and Space-based Detectors

Mary Hall Reno and John F Krizmanic

ArXiv.org

Cornell University

09/18/2025

DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.2509.15469

Files and links (1)

url

https://doi.org/10.48550/arxiv.2509.15469View

Preprint (Author's original)This preprint has not been evaluated by subject experts through peer review. Preprints may undergo extensive changes and/or become peer-reviewed journal articles. Open Access

Abstract

𝜈SpaceSim is a highly-efficient (e.g., fast) module-based, end-to-end simulation package that models the physical processes of cosmic neutrino interactions that leads to detectable signals for sub-orbital and space-based instruments. Starting with an input flux of neutrinos incident on a user-specified geometry in the Earth, the flux of Earth-emergent leptons are calculated followed by their subsequent extensive air showers (EAS). Next, the EAS optical Cherenkov and radio emission, signal attenuation to the detector, and the detector response are modeled to determine the sensitivity to both the diffuse cosmic neutrinos and transient neutrino sources. Using the Earth as a tau neutrino target and the atmosphere as the signal generator effectively forms a detector with a mega-gigaton mass. Furthermore, 𝜏-lepton decays and neutrino neutral-current interactions within the Earth (re)generates a flux of lower energy tau neutrinos that can also interact in the Earth thus enhancing the detection probability. 𝜈SpaceSim provides a tool to both understand the data from recent experiments such as EUSO-SPB2 as well as design/understand the performance the next generation of balloon- and space-based experiments, including POEMMA Balloon with Radio (PBR) and the Payload for Ultrahigh Energy Observations (PUEO). In this paper the 𝜈SpaceSim software, physics modeling, and the cosmic neutrino measurement capabilities of example sub-orbital and space-based experimental configurations are presented as well as status of planned modeling upgrades.

Physics - High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena

Physics - Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics

Details

Title: Subtitle: 𝝂SpaceSim: A Comprehensive Simulation Package for Modeling the Measurement of Cosmic Neutrinos using the Earth as the Neutrino Target and Space-based Detectors
Creators: Mary Hall Reno
John F Krizmanic
Resource Type: Preprint
Publication Details: ArXiv.org
DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.2509.15469
ISSN: 2331-8422
Publisher: Cornell University; Ithaca, New York
Language: English
Date posted: 09/18/2025
Academic Unit: Physics and Astronomy
Record Identifier: 9984966335902771

Metrics

3 Record Views