IceCube: Status and First Results

TL;DR

IceCube is a large-scale neutrino telescope under construction at the South Pole, with initial data collection using 40 strings, aiming for full completion by 2011 to study high-energy neutrinos.

Contribution

This paper reports the current status, initial results, and future plans of the IceCube neutrino observatory at the South Pole.

Findings

Operational with 40 strings collecting data

Progenitor detector AMANDA continues to operate

Expected full deployment by 2011 with 80 strings

Abstract

IceCube is a cubic neutrino telescope under construction at the South Pole since the austral summer 2004/2005 with a total instrumented volume of the order of 1 km^3. At the moment it is taking data with 40 deployed strings. The full detector is expected to be completed in 2011 with up to 80 strings holding 60 digital optical modules (DOMs) each. The progenitor detector AMANDA has been operating at the same site since 1997 and is still functioning as a means to enhance neutrino effective area at energies below 100 GeV. A summary of science results and status of the project is presented.