The Surface Array of IceCube-Gen2

TL;DR

The IceCube-Gen2 surface array aims to enhance multi-messenger astronomy and particle physics by combining surface air shower detection with in-ice neutrino observations, improving sensitivity and background reduction.

Contribution

This paper presents the baseline design of the IceCube-Gen2 surface array, integrating scintillator panels and radio antennas for air shower detection, a novel approach for combined measurements.

Findings

Design of the 8 km² surface array with scintillator panels and radio antennas.

Enhanced ability to study cosmic rays and hadronic physics.

Improved sensitivity to astrophysical neutrinos from the southern sky.

Abstract

The science goals of IceCube-Gen2 include multi-messenger astronomy, astroparticle and particle physics. To this end, the observatory will include several detection methods, including a surface array and in-ice optical sensors. The array will have an approximately 8 km$^2$ surface coverage consisting of elevated scintillator panels and radio antennas to detect air showers in the energy range of several 100 TeV to a few EeV. The observatory's design is unique in that the measurements using the surface array can be combined with the observations of $\geq$300 GeV muons, produced in the hadronic cascades, using the optical detectors in the ice. This allows for an enhanced ability to study cosmic-ray and hadronic physics as well as to boost the sensitivity for astrophysical neutrinos from the southern sky by reducing the primary background, atmospheric muons. We will present the baseline design of the surface array and highlight the expected scientific capabilities.