Probing particle physics with IceCube

Abstract The IceCube observatory located at the South Pole is a cubic-kilometre optical Cherenkov telescope primarily designed for the detection of high-energy astrophysical neutrinos. IceCube became fully operational in 2010, after a seven-year construction phase, and reached a milestone in 2013 by...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The European Physical Journal C
Main Authors: Markus Ahlers, Klaus Helbing, Carlos Pérez de los Heros
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: SpringerOpen 2018
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1140/epjc/s10052-018-6369-9
https://doaj.org/article/953e2fb7d23d4123b46c3109c35bcca0
Description
Summary:Abstract The IceCube observatory located at the South Pole is a cubic-kilometre optical Cherenkov telescope primarily designed for the detection of high-energy astrophysical neutrinos. IceCube became fully operational in 2010, after a seven-year construction phase, and reached a milestone in 2013 by the first observation of cosmic neutrinos in the TeV–PeV energy range. This observation does not only mark an important breakthrough in neutrino astronomy, but it also provides a new probe of particle physics related to neutrino production, mixing, and interaction. In this review we give an overview of the various possibilities how IceCube can address fundamental questions related to the phenomena of neutrino oscillations and interactions, the origin of dark matter, and the existence of exotic relic particles, like monopoles. We will summarize recent results and highlight future avenues.