ICE-CUBE: The Under-the-Ice Neutrino Observatory in Antarctica — Opening a New Window on the Universe from the South Pole
Francis Halzen· University of Wisconsin–Madison
Sat, Nov 5 · 00:00 UTC · Cosmos Club, USA
Francis Halzen explains how the IceCube telescope uses detectors buried deep in Antarctic ice to observe high-energy neutrinos from the cosmos. The lecture describes construction of the observatory, the measurement of particle energies and directions, and the distinction between atmospheric backgrounds and neutrinos arriving from distant astrophysical sources. It connects the discovery of cosmic neutrinos with the search for the powerful accelerators that produce cosmic rays. Examples include the association with a flaring blazar and evidence identifying the active galaxy NGC 1068 as a neutrino source. Halzen discusses the role of rotating supermassive black holes, coordination with other observatories, and prospects for extending the detector.