München 2009 – scientific programme

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T: Fachverband Teilchenphysik

T 105: Experimentelle Techniken der Astroteilchenphysik 1

T 105.1: Group Report

Thursday, March 12, 2009, 16:45–17:05, M105

Status of acoustic activities for neutrino detection at the South Pole — •Delia Tosi — DESY Platanenallee 6 - 15738 Zeuthen

South Pole ice is predicted to be the best medium for acoustic neutrino detection, and consequently a suitable location for a multi-km³ hybrid array combining optical, radio and acoustic detectors. To verify the estimates and therefore the feasibility of such a detector, it is necessary to measure in situ acoustic properties such as acoustic noise floor, background transients rate and characteristics, sound speed and attenuation length, as a function of depth and in the frequency range interesting for neutrino detection (1-100 kHz).

To accomplish these measurements, an array of acoustic transmitters and sensors, the South Pole Acoustic Test Setup (SPATS) has been deployed in the Antarctic ice in 2007. In addition, a retrievable transmitter (“pinger”), was operated in 6 water-filled IceCube holes, before the deployment of the optical string.

Since installation, the array has been taking data continuously. At present the sound speed profile has been measured versus depth for both pressure and shear waves. The features of the transient signals and noise floor have been determined; additional laboratory studies are underway to reduce uncertainties in the calibration. Inter-string runs using frozen-in transmitter as well as other pinger runs foreseen in the austral summer 2008-09 on longer baselines will improve the constraints on the attenuation length. The status and the updated results from the setup will be presented.