Advances in reconstructing the cosmic-ray energy spectrum with IceTop

TL;DR

This paper discusses advancements in measuring the cosmic-ray energy spectrum using IceTop, including improved data analysis methods, increased event detection, and enhanced reconstruction techniques that extend the observable energy range.

Contribution

The paper introduces new analysis methods and reconstruction techniques that improve the accuracy and extend the energy range of cosmic-ray spectrum measurements with IceTop.

Findings

Enhanced data analysis handling snow overburden effects

Increased event rate and reconstruction quality

Extended energy spectrum measurement up to higher energies

Abstract

The IceTop array at the surface of the IceCube Neutrino Observatory measures extensive air showers produced by cosmic-ray particles with energies from PeV up to EeV, covering the transition region from galactic to extragalactic sources. This contribution presents significant improvements that will enhance the measurement of the cosmic-ray energy spectrum. (I) To analyze more than a decade of data with increasing snow overburdens on the detector, an improved method to handle the time-dependent attenuation of the detector signals was developed. (II) New analysis cuts have been developed to increase the measured event rate while improving the reconstruction quality. (III)~A~new reconstruction method that separately fits the electromagnetic and muonic components, while incorporating data from the deep in-ice detector, enables the reconstruction of air showers with cores outside the IceTop array, up to zenith angles of 50{\deg}. These improvements will significantly increase the event statistics and extend the IceTop spectrum towards higher energies.