IceCube-Gen2: the next-generation neutrino observatory for the South Pole

Abstract

The IceCube Neutrino Observatory is a cubic-kilometer Cherenkov telescope buried in the ice sheet at the South Pole that detects neutrinos of all flavors with energies from tens of GeV to several PeV. The instrument provided the first measurement of the flux of high-energy astrophysical neutrinos, opening a new window to the non-thermal universe. Here we present design studies for IceCube-Gen2, the next-generation neutrino observatory for the South Pole. IceCube-Gen2 will have an instrumented volume nearly 10 times greater than IceCube alone, substantially increasing sensitivity to high-energy neutrinos. On the surface, a large air shower detector will veto high-energy atmospheric muons and neutrinos from the southern hemisphere, enhancing the reach of astrophysical neutrino searches. In the ice, a number of new optical module designs currently being evaluated will allow for substantially increased photosensitive area per unit cost. We show how these different sensor designs affect the instrument's ability to resolve the sources of astrophysical neutrinos.