Observation of Radar Echoes From High-Energy Particle Cascades

Abstract

We report the observation of radar echoes from the ionization trails of high-energy particle cascades. These data were taken at the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, where the full electron beam (\(\sim\)10\(^9\) e\(^-\) at \(\sim\)10 GeV/e\(^-\)) was directed into a plastic target to simulate an ultra high-energy neutrino interaction. This target was interrogated with radio waves, and coherent radio reflections from the cascades were detected, with properties consistent with theoretical expectations. This is the first definitive observation of radar echoes from high-energy particle cascades, which may lead to a viable neutrino detection technology for energies \(\gtrsim 10^{16}\) eV.