IceCube data analysis and detector upgrade developments

IceCube数据分析和探测器升级开发

• 批准号: SAPPJ-2015-00025-2
• 负责人: Grant, Darren
• 金额: $ 3.64万
• 依托单位: University of Alberta
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Subatomic Physics Envelope - Project
• 财政年份: 2016
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2016-01-01 至 2017-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=614406
• 关键词: IceCube; data; analysis; detector; upgrade

The IceCube Neutrino Observatory, located at South Pole Station Antarctica, is the world's largest neutrino detector. Optimized for neutrino energies between a few hundred GeV and tens of PeV, it is the premier facility for the study of high-energy neutrinos and indirect cosmological dark matter searches. In 2008 the original design for IceCube was augmented with a low-energy extension, called DeepCore, that reduced the threshold for the observatory to approximately 10 GeV and initiated an Antarctic-based particle physics program focused on neutrino oscillation measurements and indirect dark matter searches. The IceCube and DeepCore analyses are now reaching full sensitivity and are demonstrating significant impact with results including the discovery of the first high-energy astrophysical neutrino flux, world-leading indirect dark matter searches, and globally competitive neutrino oscillation measurements. Building on these successes, the collaboration is beginning to develop low-energy (PINGU) and high-energy extensions to IceCube to achieve fundamental measurements of the neutrino mass hierarchy and identify the sources of the highest energy neutrinos. The Canadian IceCube program is lead by 6 faculty members, including Professors Grant (PI), Kopper (Assistant Professor starting October 2014), Krauss, Moore and Pinfold at the University of Alberta and Clark at the University of Toronto. This is a recognized leading group within the collaboration in all aspects of the low-energy program, including novel developments in calibrations, designed to reduce the primary detector systematic uncertainties, and the addition of Kopper extends Canada’s leadership in the collaboration to the high-energy neutrino measurements. The group's high-level physics analyses are primarily focused on measurements of atmospheric neutrino oscillations near 20 GeV, the atmospheric neutrino flux, indirect dark matter searches, and identification of high-energy neutrino sources. Recognition by this international collaboration of the Canadian contributions has come through appointment of PI Grant as co-convenor for PINGU, Clark as PINGU simulation coordinator and Kopper as the lead contributor to the design of the high-energy extension. In this SAP Project Discovery Grant we request the funding to maintain the current core IceCube analysis activities, to continue the development of the PINGU detector and to investigate the high-energy extension. The current IceCube Canada groups include a NSERC supported postdoctoral research fellow, 2 continuing PhD graduate students and 3 undergraduate researchers. Support for an additional postdoctoral fellow, and additional graduate and undergraduate researchers will be requested. Also included are travel expenses, to facilitate the group's role in this unique international collaboration, and common fund contributions.

位于南极洲南极站的冰立方中微子天文台是世界上最大的中微子探测器。它针对几百GeV到几十PeV之间的中微子能量进行了优化，是研究高能中微子和间接宇宙学暗物质搜索的首要设施。在2008年，IceCube的原始设计增加了一个低能量的扩展，称为DeepCore，将观测站的阈值降低到大约10 GeV，并启动了一个基于量子力学的粒子物理计划，专注于中微子振荡测量和间接暗物质搜索。IceCube和DeepCore的分析现在已经达到了完全的灵敏度，并显示出了重大的影响，包括发现了第一个高能天体物理中微子通量，世界领先的间接暗物质搜索以及具有全球竞争力的中微子振荡测量。在这些成功的基础上，该合作开始开发IceCube的低能（PINGU）和高能扩展，以实现中微子质量层次的基本测量，并确定最高能量中微子的来源。加拿大IceCube计划由6名教师领导，包括阿尔伯塔大学的Grant教授（PI），Kopper教授（2014年10月开始担任助理教授），Krauss，摩尔和Pinfold教授以及多伦多大学的Clark教授。这是一个公认的领导小组在合作的所有方面的低能量计划，包括新的发展校准，旨在减少主要探测器系统的不确定性，并增加了科珀扩展加拿大的领导在合作的高能中微子测量。该小组的高级物理分析主要集中在测量20 GeV附近的大气中微子振荡，大气中微子通量，间接暗物质搜索和高能中微子源的识别。这项国际合作对加拿大贡献的认可是通过任命PI Grant为PINGU的共同召集人，Clark为PINGU模拟协调员，Kopper为高能扩展设计的主要贡献者。在这个SAP项目发现补助金中，我们要求提供资金以维持当前的核心IceCube分析活动，继续开发PINDU探测器并调查高能扩展。目前的IceCube加拿大团队包括一名NSERC支持的博士后研究员，2名继续博士研究生和3名本科生研究员。将要求支持额外的博士后研究员，以及额外的研究生和本科生研究人员。还包括旅行费用，以促进该小组在这一独特的国际合作中的作用，以及共同基金捐款。