arXiv subjects

Nick Solomey

Publications and source records attributed to Nick Solomey.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

The Solar Neutrino and Astro-Particle PhYsics (SNAPPY) CubeSat Development

The SNAPPY CubeSat, which was launched May 3, 2026, will demonstrate and space qualify the nuSol neutrino-detection technology. The nuSol technology detects solar neutrinos using a gallium isotope which decays by emitting two particles spaced apart in time; this allows differentiating neutrino events from cosmic rays. In the NIAC Phase II project review in 2021, concept and science were determined to be feasible; however, two precursor studies were recommended before pursuing a full mission study. These studies were to characterize the true deep-space background for the detector's gallium double-pulse signal and to collect a statistically significant number of double-pulse events demonstrating that fast electronics can reliably select and analyze this signal. To test double-pulse signals in space, a NIAC Phase III funded building a 3U CubeSat carrying a 0.1-kg gallium-aluminum-gadolinium-garnet detector housed within an active veto array and shielding. Because the detector requires deep-space-like conditions, the CubeSat is designed for a polar low-Earth orbit at 450 km or higher altitude, collecting data over the Earth's poles above the Van Allen belts. The detector is highly sensitive, with roughly 7-percent energy resolution, with active veto shielding and passive shielding using a patented tungsten-powder and epoxy mixture that disintegrates upon atmospheric reentry. SNAPPY enables additional science during the extended mission phase of year two operations. These include measurements of solar wind particle density and energy spectra with particle identification of electrons, protons, and alpha particles; detection of very low-energy gamma rays from galactic gamma-ray bursts without directionality.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2023

Method to Reduce Noise for Measurement of $^7$Be and $^8$B Solar Neutrinos on Gallium-71

Gallium solar neutrino experiments have historically used radiochemical counting to determine the event rate. A detector which directly measures the ejected electron and de-excitation gamma could reduce background counting rates by way of a double-pulse technique. We find this reduction could be as large as 10 orders of magnitude in a 100 ton detector. In this process, the detector measures the excited nuclear final state of the germanium after an electron neutrino interacts with gallium nucleus through the charged-current interaction. This results in a loss of approximately 90\% of the total neutrino signal, but higher energy processes are less suppressed. The neutrinos resulting from this higher energy selection are predominantly from the {}$^8$B and {}$^7$Be solar neutrino fluxes.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2022

Concept Study for Observing Galactic Neutrinos in Neptune's Atmosphere

I discuss the feasibility of a conceptual space-based neutrino detector that utilizes the Ice Giants as Targets for Galactic Neutrinos. The purpose of this research stems from the concept of wanting to find a new method of observing the Galactic Core (GC) of the Milky Way and the Supermassive black hole, Sag A*. Observations of the GC have been made in every accessible wavelength except for the regions of space that are too dense for photons to probe. In these regions, we may instead use neutrinos. Neutrinos from the Active Galactic Nucleus are emitted at extreme energies, 10 GeV to EeV scales, but have an extremely low flux measured here at Earth. Neutrino telescopes such as the IceCube Observatory have only been able to measure a handful of neutrinos that might correlate to the GC. But using Gravitational lensing, our sun can be used as a lens which increases the 'light' collection power for neutrinos by a factor of $10^{13}$, with the trade-off that the minimum focal point is located at 22 AU. This means that Uranus and Neptune are suitable natural targets for these neutrinos to interact with and observe the effects of a spacecraft in orbit. Initial studies use GEANT4, a particle physics simulation toolbox developed by CERN, to facilitate the propagation of energetic particles passing through the atmosphere of Neptune. Various aspects are studied to understand the behaviors of these particle interactions. For each of these aspects, we modify several variables such as particle type, energy, interaction depth, and orbital distance from the surface. I also discuss the versatility of this neutrino detector which has the possibility of mapping out the inner structure of the Ice Giants, in-depth studies of the neutrinos coming from the GC, and possibilities to use this method for other cosmic neutrino sources.

astro-ph.HE↗