Infrastructure for Detection of High Energy Neutrinos

Infrastructure of national interest
Main applicant: Uppsala University/Olga Botner, Division of High Energy Physics
Grant amount: 7 958 000 SEK for the period 2019-12-09 – 2022-06-30
Funder: Research infrastructure of national interest from the Swedish Research Council

IceCube is an infrastructure highly prioritised by Uppsala University, and in line with the university’s goals and strategies. In 2019, RFI invited the Swedish IceCube-groups to apply for funds for expansion of the infrastructure for detection of high energy neutrinos. The expansion is partly aimed at upgrading the existing IceCube-telescope in the near future (“Upgrade”), partly at developments aimed at the future IceCube-Gen2 (“Gen-2”), where a preliminary design document will be produced during the next two years. IceCube-Gen2 becomes a facility which, apart from optical sensors in the ice within a volume 8 times larger than the present IceCube, will include a 500 km2 modular device for radio detection of ultra-high energy neutrinos. IceCube-Gen2 is expected to become a key instrument for the new field multi-messenger-astronomy. Prototype instrumentation is under development and a Swedish investment right now is of utter importance for Sweden’s possibilities to influence the design and to offer opportunities for Swedish companies to take part of future deliveries.

IceCube is a world-renowned flagship project which gives Sweden international appeal. The two participating Swedish research groups are the ones that more than 25 years ago launched the prototype project AMANDA, together with researchers from three American universities. AMANDA evolved into IceCube, which over time has attracted researchers from all over the world. The infrastructure is now directly used by around 300 researchers from 52 institutions on 4 continents. The results are made available through publications and are used by a large number of other researchers around the world. Even if the Swedish contribution to the investment costs was relatively small, around 2%, our contributions to the detector construction have been comprehensive. Sweden’s engagement and continuing leadership on various levels now give us a high regard within the project and an international exposure which far exceeds the expectations based on the Swedish financial contributions.

At the same time, the special location at the South Pole and the polar environment offer unique possibilities for Swedish companies to prove themselves in an exclusive context, where they together with researchers are given the opportunity to develop parts of a research infrastructure which places special demands on functionality. This contributes to technology development in the companies and should also bring a great PR value, not just for the companies but also for the contributing Swedish universities.

The grant will be used in co-operation with Swedish companies, colleagues within IceCube and possibly the Swedish Polar Research Secretariat to carry out a number of development projects that will form the basis for potential Swedish contributions to the Upgrade and the development towards Gen2. As examples can be mentioned prototype development of cables for the Upgrade and prototype development of fiber-optical hybrid cables with distributed electronics for Gen2, development of wind turbines to secure the power supply for a modular distributed Gen2 facility for radio detection of ultra-high energy neutrinos, adaptation/development of a working machine for polar conditions with the functions digging, mast rising, and ground probing radar, and development of a camera module with controllable camera which will be lowered into the ice and be used for increased understanding of the ice properties.

Funds were awarded within VR’s framework for accessibility to infrastructure, promoting Swedish participation in the development and upgrading of research infrastructures of great strategic value for Swedish researchers and Swedish business.