Cosmic ray Spectrum, Composition, and Anisotropy Measured with IceCube

TL;DR

This paper presents precise measurements of the cosmic ray spectrum, composition, and anisotropy using IceCube's surface and in-ice detectors, revealing key features in the knee region up to 1 EeV.

Contribution

It provides new combined surface and in-ice data analysis for cosmic ray composition and anisotropy, extending understanding of cosmic ray properties at high energies.

Findings

Measured the cosmic ray spectrum up to 1 EeV.

Observed an increase in average primary mass with energy.

Reviewed recent anisotropy measurements.

Abstract

Analysis of cosmic ray surface data collected with the IceTop array of Cherenkov detectors at the South Pole provides an accurate measurement of the cosmic ray spectrum and its features in the "knee" region up to energies of about 1 EeV. IceTop is part of the IceCube Observatory that includes a deep-ice cubic kilometer detector that registers signals of penetrating muons and other particles. Surface and in-ice signals detected in coincidence provide clear insights into the nuclear composition of cosmic rays. IceCube already measured an increase of the average primary mass as a function of energy. We present preliminary results on both IceTop-only and coincident event analyses. Furthermore, we review the recent measurement of the cosmic ray anisotropy with IceCube.