Reconstructing Cosmic Ray Air Showers With IceCube

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Cosmic ray collisions in the upper atmosphere produce extensive air showers of particles which are detectable at Earth. The IceCube Observatory, a versatile particle detector at the South Pole, is a powerful tool for studying these mysterious high-energy cosmic particles. Measuring the size or energy of cosmic ray events is an important overall goal of the IceCube Observatory. Such measurements are crucial for studying any aspect of these particles, especially their energy spectrum and mass composition. The surface detectors of IceCube (known as IceTop) are covered by snow, and this attenuates the signals in the detectors. This award will enable the group to develop a reconstruction algorithm which corrects for the attenuating effect of snow coverage. In addition, this group will study the composition of cosmic rays and how the IceCube Observatory can distinguish between heavy and light cosmic ray primaries. UAA draws students from all over the state of Alaska. This project presents a unique learning opportunity for UAA undergraduates, an opportunity not only to participate in active research and discovery, but also to be a part of a large international effort.