Status of the production and calibration of the scintillation detectors for the IceCube Surface Array Enhancement

• Main Authors: Shefali, Shefali, IceCube Collaboration
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: 2023
• Subjects: ddc:530; Physics; info:eu-repo/classification/ddc/530; South Pole; South pole
• Online Access: https://publikationen.bibliothek.kit.edu/1000156246

The surface array of IceCube, IceTop, operates as a veto for the astrophysical neutrino searches, as a calibration detector for the IceCube in-ice instrumentation, as well as a cosmic ray detector. However, the snow accumulation on top of these detectors results in an increased uncertainty in the number of detected particles and consequently, the air shower reconstruction. Enhancing IceTop with a hybrid array of scintillation detectors and radio antennas will lower the energy threshold for air-shower measurements, provide more efficient veto capabilities, enable the separation of the electromagnetic and muonic shower components and improve the detector calibration by compensating for snow accumulation. After the initial commissioning period, a prototype station at the South Pole has been recording air shower data and has successfully observed coincident events with the IceTop array. The production and calibration of the scintillation detectors for the full array has been ongoing. Additionally, one station each at Pierre Auger Observatory and Telescope Array have been installed for R&D of these detectors in different environmental conditions. This contribution will present the status of the scintillation detectors for the IceCube Surface Array Enhancement.