Speaker
Description
Radio detection of ultra-high-energy cosmic rays and neutrinos has emerged as a promising next-generation experimental technique. The polar regions, particularly Antarctica and the Arctic, are considered ideal sites due to their exceptionally low background noise. However, one of the primary challenges in operating experiments in these remote locations is ensuring a stable power supply. While solar panels can reliably provide power during the summer months, winter operations remain difficult due to the absence of sunlight. Wind power offers a potential solution, yet no ultra-high-energy cosmic-ray experiment has successfully demonstrated its sustained use in a field deployment. Establishing a reliable winter power supply would significantly extend the experiment's exposure time, enhancing the efficiency of data collection. However, implementing wind-based systems in polar environments presents significant challenges, including icing and mechanical failures such as bearing damage due to extreme cold. Furthermore, radio experiments impose additional constraints, requiring careful mitigation of electromagnetic interference (EMI) and switching noise, which can degrade detection sensitivity.
In this study, we present the development and field performance of a solar-wind hybrid power system designed for the TAROGE-M experiment. TAROGE-M is a radio array deployed on the summit of Mount Melbourne in Antarctica, aiming to detect impulsive radio signals from ultra-high-energy particles near the horizon. The system operates on approximately 20 W of power. In the 2023-24 season, TAROGE-M successfully conducted its first year-long operation, demonstrating—for the first time in the field—the feasibility of winter operations using wind power. A small 30 W wind turbine was used during high-wind periods to sustain system operation, with minimal impact on radio frequency noise. For the 2024-25 season, the system will be upgraded with a 150 W medium-scale wind turbine, which is expected to support operations for a significant portion of the winter. We will discuss the design, implementation, and field performance of the TAROGE-M power system, highlighting its pioneering role in utilizing wind power for ultra-high-energy cosmic-ray detection in extreme environments.
| Collaboration(s) | TAROGE-M Collaboration |
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