Scientists from Penn State University and other institutions have reported the detection of unusual radio signals beneath the Antarctic ice using the Antarctic Impulsive Transient Antenna (ANITA) experiment.
These signals challenge established models of particle physics, potentially indicating the existence of previously unknown particles or interactions. The ANITA experiment uses high-altitude balloons equipped with radio detectors to capture radio waves emitted when cosmic rays interact with the atmosphere.
The detected radio waves appeared to originate from below the horizon, an orientation that current physics cannot explain. This suggests the signals may have traveled through thousands of kilometers of rock, a journey that should have rendered them undetectable.
Stephanie Wissel, an associate professor at Penn State, explained that the radio waves were detected at steep angles, approximately 30 degrees below the ice surface.
Calculations indicate the anomalous signal would have had to pass through thousands of kilometers of rock. This should have absorbed the radio signal, making it undetectable.
The team is continuing to investigate these anomalies to better understand their origins and implications for particle physics. The ANITA experiment is positioned in Antarctica to minimize signal interference.
The balloon-borne detector flies over ice stretches to capture emission signals, known as ice showers. Researchers differentiate between ice and air showers to determine particle attributes.
The signals are traced back to their origin, similar to a ball bouncing predictably. However, the recent findings cannot be traced back in this manner, as the angle is sharper than predicted.
Researchers analyzed data from multiple ANITA flights, comparing it with models and simulations. They cross-referenced signals with data from the IceCube experiment and the Pierre Auger Observatory.