An in situ measurement of the radio-frequency attenuation in ice at Summit Station, Greenland

• Main Authors: Avva, J., Kovac, J. M., Miki, C., Saltzberg, D., Vieregg, A. G.
• Format: Text
• Language: unknown
• Published: arXiv 2014
• Subjects: Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics astro-ph.IM; High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena astro-ph.HE; High Energy Physics - Experiment hep-ex; FOS Physical sciences; Greenland
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.48550/arxiv.1409.5413; https://arxiv.org/abs/1409.5413

We report an in situ measurement of the electric field attenuation length at radio frequencies for the bulk ice at Summit Station, Greenland, made by broadcasting radio-frequency signals vertically through the ice and measuring the relative power in the return ground bounce signal. We find the depth-averaged field attenuation length to be 947 +92/-85 meters at 75 MHz. While this measurement has clear radioglaciological applications, the radio clarity of the ice also has implications for the detection of ultra-high energy (UHE) astrophysical particles via their radio emission in dielectric media such as ice. Assuming a reliable extrapolation to higher frequencies, the measured attenuation length at Summit Station is comparable to previously measured radio-frequency attenuation lengths at candidate particle detector sites around the world, and strengthens the case for Summit Station as a promising northern site for UHE neutrino detection. : 7 pages, 7 figures, published in Journal of Glaciology