The Low Frequency Instrument for the Payload for Ultrahigh Energy Observations (PUEO)

The Payload for Ultrahigh Energy Observations (PUEO) long-duration balloon experiment is designed to observe ultra-high energy (UHE) neutrinos with energies above EeV. These neutrinos can probe the extreme-energy universe at all distance scales. PUEO consists of a Main Instrument on a payload and a Low Frequency (LF) instrument that will be deployed under the payload when the balloon reaches the stratosphere. The Main Instrument includes 108 dual polarized horn antennas that operate in the 300-1200 MHz range, and the 8 sinuous antennas that comprise the LF instrument receive signals in the 50-300 MHz range. The 8-meter tall, 4-meter wide hexagonal LF antenna array is sensitive to impulsive, geomagnetic radio signals emitted from air showers. Either cosmic rays or tau leptons that are produced from Earth-skimming neutrinos can initiate these showers. This talk will focus on the design and construction of the LF instrument, including the antennas, the gondola, the signal chain and the trigger. The expected sensitivity of the Main and the LF instruments to the tau neutrinos and the cosmic rays will also be presented.