Design and performance of a UV-calibration device for the SPICEcore hole

TL;DR

This paper describes the design and testing of a UV calibration device used to measure optical properties of ice in the SPICEcore borehole, aiding the development of UV-sensitive optical modules for IceCube upgrades.

Contribution

It introduces a novel UV calibration device and demonstrates its performance in measuring UV light scattering and absorption in ice for neutrino detector enhancements.

Findings

Device successfully measured UV optical properties in ice.

Measured scattering and absorption lengths relevant for detector design.

Performance validated during the 2018/19 campaign.

Abstract

The IceCube Neutrino Observatory will be upgraded in 2022/23. For this IceCube Upgrade and the planned enlarged detector IceCube-Gen2 new optical modules are under development. One of these optical modules, the Wavelength-shifting Optical Module (WOM), uses wavelength-shifting and light-guiding techniques to measure Cherenkov photons in the UV-range. To understand the potential improvements of this new module the absorption and scattering lengths of UV light in the South Pole ice need to be measured. The measurement is done utilizing an existing borehole (SPICEcore) of 1751 m depth. The SPICEcore hole was drilled for glaciological studies and filled with a transparent antifreeze liquid to remain accessible. To measure the UV optical properties a calibration device has been designed and lowered down into the hole. The device includes a UV light source and a UV-sensitive detector. UV photons scattered back are measured and from their time distribution the scattering and absorption length are calculated. We present the design of the probe and its performance during the 2018/19 measurement campaign.