Project Title

IceCube Upgrade: An IceCube extension for precision neutrino physics and astrophysics

Summary

Event Number:
A-334-M/S
NSF / OPP Award 2227092

Program Manager:
Dr. Vladimir Papitashvili

ASC POC/Implementer:
Paul Sullivan / Sheryl Seagraves / Leah Street / Matthew Kippenhan

Principal Investigator(s)

Dr. Kael Dylan Hanson
kaeld@icecube.wisc.edu
University of Wisconsin Madison
Department of Physics
Madison, Wisconsin

Location

Supporting Stations: McMurdo Station, South Pole Station
Research Locations: IceCube Lab (ICL) and local drill camp location(s)

Description

Leveraging the experience of the IceCube collaboration and the currently operating infrastructure of the IceCube Neutrino Observatory, a five-year project is proposed to advance the state of the art in multimessenger astronomy with neutrinos and improve on the ability of IceCube to make a unique measurement of the unitarity of the PMNS (Pontecorvo-Maki-Nakagawa-Sakata) matrix. This award, the IceCube Gen2 Phase 1 extension, will fund the deployment of seven additional strings of photon sensors at the bottom center of IceCube. The new strings will use multiple photomultiplier tube (PMT) Digital Optical Modules (mDOMs) that provide better directionality and more than double the photocathode area per module, at lower cost per unit area, than traditional IceCube DOMs.

Field Season Overview

For McMurdo Station, no participants will deploy during the 2020-21 field season. The Science Traverse Supervisor will be the ASC point of contact (POC) for McMurdo activities, as time allows. The POC will help direct and facilitate cargo coordination with South Pole Operations Traverse (SPoT) personnel based on available capacity to the South Pole Station. The POC will also conduct minor information gathering per instructions from the ASC project manager.

On-Ice activities for this project at the South Pole will include grooming the drill pad and relocated the ICL road, preparing a skid steer loader with suitable modifications for working at the South Pole, receiving cargo delivered from the South Pole Operations Traverse, and grooming the drill equipment storage berm area.