Cosmic Ray Detection with the IceTop Enhancement

TL;DR

This paper discusses the development and initial testing of the Surface Array Enhancement (SAE) for IceTop, aiming to improve cosmic ray detection through radio antennas and scintillator panels, with preliminary results on shower maximum estimation.

Contribution

It introduces the SAE upgrade for IceTop, combining scintillator and radio detectors, and presents initial calibration and radio detection results from a prototype station.

Findings

Preliminary estimation of shower maximum ($X_{max}$) using radio antennas.

Successful deployment and calibration of prototype stations.

Extension of existing analysis methods for air-shower detection.

Abstract

IceTop is the cosmic-ray detector located on the surface of the IceCube Neutrino Observatory at the South Pole, consisting of 81 pairs of ice-Cherenkov tanks. The rise in the energy threshold of air-shower measurements in IceTop due to accumulating snow emphasized the need for the next generation of IceCube surface detectors. For this purpose, the Surface Array Enhancement (SAE) is set to comprise elevated scintillator panels and radio antennas controlled by hybrid DAQ systems. The detectors of the SAE are also expected to extend to the planned IceCube-Gen2 Surface Array. An initial study with a prototype station is already conducted. We briefly review the SAE and the deployment as well as the calibration status of the upcoming stations of the planned array of 32 stations. The focus of this contribution is on the radio detection of extensive air showers. A preliminary estimation of the position of the shower maximum ($X_\mathrm{max}$), that is sensitive to the primary mass, with data from the 3 antennas of the prototype station was carried out. An extension of the method from previous analyses is also briefly discussed.