The IceCube-Gen2 Collaboration -- Contributions to the 37th International Cosmic Ray Conference (ICRC2021)

TL;DR

IceCube-Gen2 aims to significantly enhance neutrino detection sensitivity through advanced sensors and array configurations, building on IceCube's success to explore astrophysical neutrinos from TeV to EeV energies.

Contribution

This paper presents new research on sensor performance, array optimization, and radio detection estimates for IceCube-Gen2, advancing the observatory's capabilities.

Findings

Next-generation optical sensors improve Cherenkov radiation detection.

Optimized array geometries enhance sensitivity to neutrino sources.

Radio array estimates indicate increased detection potential for PeV-EeV neutrinos.

Abstract

IceCube-Gen2 is a planned extension of the IceCube Neutrino Observatory at the South Pole. The extension is optimized to search for sources of astrophysical neutrinos from TeV to EeV, and will improve the sensitivity of the observatory to neutrino point sources by a factor of five. The science case of IceCube-Gen2 is built on a successful decade of observations with IceCube. This index of contributions to the 37th International Cosmic Ray Conference in Berlin, Germany (12-23 July 2021) describes research and development efforts for IceCube-Gen2. Included are performance studies of next-generation optical sensors that will detect Cherenkov radiation from TeV-PeV cosmic rays and neutrinos; optimizations of the geometries of the surface and in-ice optical arrays; and estimates of the sensitivity of the proposed IceCube-Gen2 radio array to Askaryan emission from PeV-EeV neutrinos. Contributions related to the existing instrument, IceCube, are available in a separate collection.