Novel technique for supernova detection with IceCube

The current supernova detection technique used in IceCube relies on the sudden deviation of the summed photomultiplier noise rate from its nominal value during the neutrino burst, making IceCube a $\approx 3$ Megaton effective detection volume - class supernova detector. While galactic supernovae can be resolved with this technique, the supernova neutrino emission spectrum remains unconstrained and thus presents a limited potential for the topics related to supernova core collapse models. The paper elaborates analytically on the capabilities of IceCube to detect supernovae through the analysis of hits in the detector correlated in space and time. These arise from supernova neutrinos interacting in the instrumented detector volume along single strings. Although the effective detection volume for such coincidental hits is much smaller ($\gtrsim 35\,$kton, about the scale of SuperK), a wealth of information is obtained due to the comparatively low coincidental noise rate. We demonstrate that a neutrino flux from a core collapse supernova will produce a signature enabling the resolution of rough spectral features and, in the case of a strong signal, providing indication on its location. We further discuss the enhanced potential of a rather modest detector extension, a denser array in the center of IceCube, within our one dimensional analytic calculation framework. Such an extension would enable the exploration of the neutrino sky above a few GeV and the detection of supernovae up to a few 100's of kilo parsec. However, a $3-4\,$Mpc detection distance, necessary for routine supernova detection, demands a significant increase of the effective detection volume and can be obtained only with a more ambitious instrument, particularly the boosting of sensor parameters such as the quantum efficiency and light collection area.Comment: 12 p., 10 fi

Anisotropy in the pion angular distribution of the reaction pp -> pp pi0 at 400 MeV

The reaction pp -> pp pi0 was studied with the WASA detector at the CELSIUS storage ring. The center of mass angular distribution of the pi0 was obtained by detection of the gamma decay products together with the two outgoing protons, and found to be anisotropic with a negative second derivative slope, in agreement with the theoretical predictions from a microscopic calculation.Comment: Revtex 4 style, 5 pages 7 figures, PACS numbers:13.60.Le, 13.75.Cs, 21.45.+v, 25.10.+

Measurement of the eta->pi+pi-e+e- decay branching ratio

The reaction pd->3He eta at threshold was used to provide a clean source of eta mesons for decay studies with the WASA detector at CELSIUS. The branching ratio of the decay eta->pi+pi-e+e- is measured to be (4.3+/-1.3+/-0.4)x10^-4.Comment: 10 pages,6 figures revised versio

Measurement of the Slope Parameter for the eta->3pi0 Decay in the pp->pp eta Reaction

The CELSIUS/WASA setup is used to measure the 3pi0 decay of eta mesons produced in pp interactions with beam kinetic energies of 1.36 and 1.45 GeV. The efficiency-corrected Dalitz plot and density distributions for this decay are shown, together with a fit of the quadratic slope parameter alpha yielding alpha = -0.026 +/- 0.010(stat) +/- 0.010(syst). This value is compared to recent experimental results and theoretical predictions.Comment: 4 pages, 7 Postscript figures, uses revtex4.st

Measurement of Spin Correlation Parameters ANN_{NN}, ASS_{SS}, and A_SL{SL} at 2.1 GeV in Proton-Proton Elastic Scattering

At the Cooler Synchrotron COSY/J\"ulich spin correlation parameters in elastic proton-proton (pp) scattering have been measured with a 2.11 GeV polarized proton beam and a polarized hydrogen atomic beam target. We report results for A$_{NN}$, A$_{SS}$, and A_${SL}$ for c.m. scattering angles between 30$^o$ and 90$^o$. Our data on A$_{SS}$ -- the first measurement of this observable above 800 MeV -- clearly disagrees with predictions of available of pp scattering phase shift solutions while A$_{NN}$ and A_${SL}$ are reproduced reasonably well. We show that in the direct reconstruction of the scattering amplitudes from the body of available pp elastic scattering data at 2.1 GeV the number of possible solutions is considerably reduced.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure

Polarisation of the omega meson in the pd-->3He+omega reaction at 1360 and 1450 MeV

The tensor polarisation of omega mesons produced in the pd-->3He+omega reaction has been studied at two energies near threshold. The 3He nuclei were detected in coincidence with the pi0pi+pi- or pi0gamma decay products of the omega. In contrast to the case of phi meson production, the omega mesons are found to be unpolarised. This brings into question the applicability of the Okubo-Zweig-Iizuka rule when comparing the production of vector mesons in low energy hadronic reactions.Comment: 11 pages, 4 figure

The pd --> ^3He eta pi0 reaction at T_p = 1450 MeV

The cross section for the pd --> ^3He eta pi0 reaction has been measured at a beam energy of 1450 MeV using the WASA detector at the CELSIUS storage ring and detecting one ^3He and four photons from the decays of the two photons. The data indicate that the production mechanism involves the formation of the Delta(1232) isobar. Although the beam energy does not allow the full peak of this resonance to be seen, the invariant masses of all three pairs of final state particles are well reproduced by a phase space Monte Carlo simulation weighted with the p-wave factor of the square of the pi^0 momentum in the ^3Hepi^0 system.Comment: 10 pages, 5 figure

The pp -> pp pi pi pi reaction channels in the threshold region

The cross section for prompt neutral and charged three pion production in pp interactions was measured at excess energies in the range 160 - 217 MeV. That comprises the first measurement of the pp->pp pi0pi0pi0 reaction and the comparison with the pp->pp pi+pi-pi0 reaction, in a very direct way. The experiment was performed above the eta meson production threshold and the cross section normalization was obtained from a concurrent measurement of the reaction pp->pp eta with the eta decaying into 3 pions. Since the same final states are selected, the measurement has a low systematical error. The measured cross section ratio sigma(pp->pp pi+pi-pi0)/sigma(pp->pp pi0\pi0\pi0) is compared to predictions of dominance of different isobars in the intermediate state.Comment: 12 pages, 4 figures New discussion on the pp->pp3pi reaction mechanis

Production of eta and 3pi mesons in the pd->3HeX reaction at 1360 and 1450 MeV

The cross sections of the pd -> 3He eta, pd -> 3He pi0 pi0 pi0 and pd -> 3He pi+ pi- pi0 reactions have been measured at beam kinetic energies T_p= 1360 MeV and T_p= 1450 MeV using the CELSIUS/WASA detector setup. At both energies, the differential cross section dsigma/dOmega of the eta meson in the pd -> 3He eta reaction shows a strong forward-backward asymmetry in the CMS. The ratio between the pd -> 3He pi+ pi- pi0 and the pd -> 3He pi0 pi0 pi0 cross sections has been analysed in terms of isospin amplitudes. The reconstructed invariant mass distributions of the pi-pi, 3He-pi and 3He-2pi systems provide hints on the role of nucleon resonances in the 3pi production process.Comment: Shorter version accepted to EPJA 10 pages 14 figure

Calibration and Characterization of the IceCube Photomultiplier Tube

Over 5,000 PMTs are being deployed at the South Pole to compose the IceCube neutrino observatory. Many are placed deep in the ice to detect Cherenkov light emitted by the products of high-energy neutrino interactions, and others are frozen into tanks on the surface to detect particles from atmospheric cosmic ray showers. IceCube is using the 10-inch diameter R7081-02 made by Hamamatsu Photonics. This paper describes the laboratory characterization and calibration of these PMTs before deployment. PMTs were illuminated with pulses ranging from single photons to saturation level. Parameterizations are given for the single photoelectron charge spectrum and the saturation behavior. Time resolution, late pulses and afterpulses are characterized. Because the PMTs are relatively large, the cathode sensitivity uniformity was measured. The absolute photon detection efficiency was calibrated using Rayleigh-scattered photons from a nitrogen laser. Measured characteristics are discussed in the context of their relevance to IceCube event reconstruction and simulation efforts.Comment: 40 pages, 12 figure