Particle Physics in Ice with IceCube DeepCore

TL;DR

This paper discusses the IceCube Neutrino Observatory's DeepCore extension, which enhances the detector's ability to study low-energy neutrinos for dark matter and oscillation physics, including initial data analysis and future plans.

Contribution

It presents the first analysis of DeepCore data and proposes a future PINGU detector to further extend particle physics research in Antarctic ice.

Findings

DeepCore achieves an energy threshold of around 10 GeV.

First year data analysis demonstrates potential for dark matter and neutrino oscillation studies.

Proposes PINGU as a future extension for enhanced physics capabilities.

Abstract

The IceCube Neutrino Observatory is the world's largest high energy neutrino telescope, using the Antarctic ice cap as a Cherenkov detector medium. DeepCore, the low energy extension to IceCube, is an infill array with a fiducial volume of around 30 MTon in the deepest, clearest ice, aiming for an energy threshold as low as 10 GeV and extending IceCube's sensitivity to indirect dark matter searches and atmospheric neutrino oscillation physics. We will discuss the analysis of the first year of DeepCore data, as well as ideas for a further extension of the particle physics program in the ice with a future PINGU detector.