Physics and operation of the AMANDA-II high energy neutrino telescope

J. Ahrens, X. Bai, S. W. Barwick, T. Becka, K. H. Becker, D. Bertrand, F. Binon, A. Biron, S. Böser, O. Botner, O. Bouhali, T. Burgess, S. Carius, T. Castermans, D. Chirkin, J. Conrad, J. Cooley, D. F. Cowen, A. Davour, C. de ClercqT. DeYoung, P. Desiati, J. P. Dewulf, P. Doksus, P. Ekström, T. Feser, T. K. Gaisser, M. Gaug, L. Gerhardt, A. Goldschmidt, A. Hallgren, F. Halzen, K. Hanson, R. Hardtke, T. Hauschildt, M. Hellwig, P. Herquet, G. C. Hill, P. O. Hulth, K. Hultqvist, S. Hundertmark, J. Jacobsen, A. Karle, L. Köpke, M. Kowalski, K. Kuehn, J. I. Lamoureux, H. Leich, M. Leuthold, P. Lindahl, J. Madsen, P. Marciniewski, H. S. Matis, C. P. McParland, Y. Minaeva, P. Miočinović, R. Morse, R. Nahnhauer, T. Neunhöffer, P. Niessen, D. R. Nygren, H. Ogelman, P. Olbrechts, C. Pérez de los Heros, A. C. Pohl, P. B. Price, G. T. Przybylski, K. Rawlins, E. Resconi, W. Rhode, M. Ribordy, S. Richter, J. Rodríguez Martino, D. Ross, H. G. Sander, T. Schmidt, D. Schneider, R. Schwarz, A. Silvestri, M. Solarz, G. M. Spiczak, C. Spiering, D. Steele, P. Steffen, R. G. Stokstad, P. Sudhoff, K. H. Sulanke, I. Taboada, L. Thollander, S. Tilav, C. Walck, C. Weinheimer, C. H. Wiebusch, C. Wiedemann, R. Wischnewski, H. Wissing, K. Woschnagg, G. Yodh, S. Young

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

This paper briefly describes the principle of operation and science goals of the AMANDA high energy neutrino telescope located at the South Pole, Antarctica. Results from an earlier phase of the telescope, called AMANDA-B10, demonstrate both reliable operation and the broad astrophysical reach of this device, which includes searches for a variety of sources of ultrahigh energy neutrinos: generic point sources, Gamma-Ray Bursts and diffuse sources. The predicted sensitivity and angular resolution of the telescope were confirmed by studies of atmospheric muon and neutrino backgrounds. We also report on the status of the analysis from AMANDA-II, a larger version with far greater capabilities. At this stage of analysis, details of the ice properties and other systematic uncertainties of the AMANDA-II telescope are under study, but we have made progress toward critical science objectives. In particular, we focus on the search for continuous emission from astrophysical point sources and the search for correlated neutrino emission from Gamma Ray Bursts detected by BATSE before decommissioning in May 2000. During the next two years, we expect to exploit the full potential of AMANDA-II with the installation of a new data acquisition system that records full waveforms from the in-ice optical sensors.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationProceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
EditorsP.W. Gorham
Pages79-91
Number of pages13
Volume4858
DOIs
StatePublished - 2002
EventParticle Astrophysics Instrumentation - Waikoloa, HI, United States
Duration: Aug 22 2002Aug 23 2002

Other

OtherParticle Astrophysics Instrumentation
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityWaikoloa, HI
Period8/22/028/23/02

Keywords

  • AGN
  • AMANDA
  • Atmospheric neutrinos
  • GRB
  • Neutrino
  • Sensitivity
  • Telescope
  • WIMP

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