Development of a scintillation and radio hybrid detector array at the South Pole

Discussion timeslot (ZOOM-Meeting): 21. July 2021 - 12:00
ZOOM-Meeting URL: https://desy.zoom.us/j/92210078166
ZOOM-Meeting ID: 92210078166
ZOOM-Meeting Passcode: ICRC2021
Corresponding Session: https://icrc2021-venue.desy.de/channel/13-New-Instrumentation-and-Tools-for-EAS-Detection-CRI/92
Live-Stream URL: https://icrc2021-venue.desy.de/livestream/Discussion-03/4

Abstract:
At the IceCube Neutrino Observatory a Surface Array Enhancement is planned, consisting of 32 hybrid stations, placed within the current IceTop footprint. This surface enhancement will considerably increase the detection sensitivity to cosmic rays in the 100 TeV to 1 EeV primary energy range, measure the effects of snow accumulation on the existing IceTop tanks and serve as RandD for the possible future large-scale surface array of IceCube-Gen2. Each station has one central hybrid DAQ, which reads out 8 scintillation detectors and 3 radio antennas. The radio antenna SKALA-2 is used in this array due to its low-noise, high amplification and sensitivity in the 70-350 MHz frequency band. Every scintillation detector has an active area of 1.5 m² organic plastic scintillators connected by wavelength-shifting fibers, which are read out by a silicon photomultiplier. The signals from the scintillation detectors are integrated and digitized by a local custom electronics board and transferred to the central DAQ. When triggered by the scintillation detectors, the filtered and amplified analog waveforms from the radio antennas are read out and digitized by the central DAQ. A full prototype station has been developed and built and was installed at the South Pole in January 2020. It is planned to install the full array by 2026. In this contribution the hardware design of the array as well as the installation plans will be presented.

Authors: Marie Oehler | Roxanne Turcotte | For the IceCube Collaboration
Collaboration: IceCube

Indico-ID: 646
Proceeding URL: https://pos.sissa.it/395/225