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 Director:
Dr. Vladimir Papitashvili

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

Principal Investigator(s)

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

Location

Supporting Stations: McMurdo Station, South Pole Station
Research Locations: McMurdo Station; South Pole Station

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

IceCube Upgrade (ICU) will not deploy any team members to Antarctica during the 2022-2023 season. McMurdo Station support requirements are primarily related to cargo movement - receiving and storing Vessel cargo, South Pole Overland Traverse Staging Area (SPOTSA) site maintenance and on-continent transport from McMurdo Station to South Pole Station on the South Pole Overland Traverse (SPOT). South Pole Station support requirements include drill pad and road preparation, surveying hole and trench locations, cargo and fuel transport to station, equipment and generator maintenance and construction of electrical infrastructure for winter-over heating of components during the 2025 winter.