Research infrastructure
Physics and engineering sciences
Research infrastructure
Physics and engineering sciences
IceCube
Neutrino detector at the South Pole for astroparticle physics.
The world's leading neutrino telescope, IceCube Neutrino Observatory, consists of light-sensitive detectors located within a cubic kilometre area deep below the ice of the South Pole. The primary aim of the observatory is to investigate high energy neutrinos – a type of elementary particle that is difficult to detect – from space, and their astrophysical sources.
Using neutrinos in the atmosphere, neutrino oscillations are also studied. A few years ago, IceCube observed its first cosmic high energy neutrinos. Belgium, Sweden, Germany and USA started IceCube, and currently twelve countries participate in the project. The four original members monitor the project through a control group, where the Swedish Research Council is represented.
An upgrade of IceCube is planned, aimed at increasing the spatial resolution for detecting high energy neutrinos, and to measure signals from ultra-high energy neutrinos. The upgrade would open the door to research into a number of topical questions within neutrino-astroparticle physics. The upgrade would also improve the calibration of the telescope, which would make it possible to conduct new, more precise analyses of the data already captured by IceCube during the decade the telescope has been in operation.
Read more on IceCube's website External link.