Simulation Study of the Observed Radio Emission of Air Showers by the IceTop Surface Extension

TL;DR

This study evaluates the potential of an upgraded IceTop surface array with radio antennas and scintillators for improved cosmic-ray air shower detection, using prototype measurements and simulations to enhance primary particle characterization.

Contribution

It introduces a novel hybrid detection approach combining radio and scintillator measurements with existing IceTop tanks, validated through prototype data and simulations.

Findings

Radio signals observed in the 70-350 MHz band match simulations.

Prototype measurements confirm the analysis chain's validity.

Enhanced array improves primary particle characterization capabilities.

Abstract

Multi-detector observations of individual air showers are critical to make significant progress to precisely determine cosmic-ray quantities such as mass and energy of individual events and thus bring us a step forward in answering the open questions in cosmic-ray physics. An enhancement of IceTop, the surface array of the IceCube Neutrino Observatory, is currently underway and includes adding antennas and scintillators to the existing array of ice-Cherenkov tanks. The radio component will improve the characterization of the primary particles by providing an estimation of X$_\text{max}$ and a direct sampling of the electromagnetic cascade, both important for per-event mass classification. A prototype station has been operated at the South Pole and has observed showers, simultaneously, with the tanks, scintillator panels, and antennas. The observed radio signals of these events are unique as they are measured in the 70 to 350\,MHz band, higher than many other cosmic-ray experiments. We present a comparison of the detected events with the waveforms from CoREAS simulations, convoluted with the end-to-end electronics response, as a verification of the analysis chain. Using the detector response and the measurements of the prototype station as input, we update a Monte-Carlo-based study on the potential of the enhanced surface array for the hybrid detection of air showers by scintillators and radio antennas.