Determining the orientation of radio antennas at the South Pole using Galactic noise measurements

TL;DR

This paper introduces a novel method to determine the orientation of radio antennas at the South Pole by analyzing Galactic noise variations, enhancing accuracy for cosmic-ray air-shower measurements.

Contribution

The work presents a new technique using Galactic noise patterns to accurately determine antenna orientation, supplementing GPS-based methods.

Findings

Galactic noise variations correlate with Earth's rotation and Galactic Center position.

The method can improve antenna alignment accuracy at the South Pole.

Potential to enhance cosmic-ray air-shower reconstruction accuracy.

Abstract

The IceCube Neutrino Observatory is a multi-messenger observatory at the South Pole. As preparation for an enhancement of its surface array, IceTop, a prototype station consisting of elevated scintillation panels and radio antennas has been installed and is operating since 2020. The radio antennas detect emissions from cosmic-ray-induced air showers, and their precise orientation is essential for an accurate reconstruction of the air-shower properties. This work presents a novel method to determine the orientation by analyzing periodic variations of the Galactic background noise recorded by the antennas. In particular, we examine noise level variations correlated with the Earth's rotation and the apparent position of the Galactic Center. The method can provide a potential alternative or augment GPS-based measurements of the alignment of radio antennas at the South Pole.