Speaker
Description
While optimized for detecting neutrinos in the multi-GeV and TeV region, IceCube is also capable of detecting the large flux of MeV neutrinos from Galactic Core Collapse Supernovae that stream through the detector. This is achieved by analyzing the collective enhancement of the PMT rate on top of a low dark rate in the cold and inert ice deep in the Antarctic Glacier. For sufficiently close Supernovae, the cubic-km size of the IceCube detector provides a sensitivity to details of the neutrino light curve that is competitive with dedicated Mton neutrino detectors.
When applied to the data of the IceCube-Gen2 detector, a similar method would enhance the sensitivity by roughly 60% compared to the case with IceCube alone. However, if one additionally exploits local coincidences between PMTs in the multi-PMT modules of IceCube-Gen2, the dark rate can be reduced substantially and the distance reach may be extended by a factor of 5 or more. Furthermore, the sensitivity during the burst onset and cooling phases, as well as the determination of the average energy of the positrons from the inverse beta reaction, will be much improved. The details depend on the dark rates introduced by the PMTs and the glass pressure housing as well as on the efficiency of vetoing atmospheric muons.
Work is under way to study various options of introducing passive photon collection devices that could substantially increase the effective optical module volume and further enhance Gen2's sensitivity to Core Collapse Supernovae.
| Collaboration | IceCube and IceCube-Gen2 Collaborations |
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