The Radio Air Shower Test Array (RASTA) – enhancing the IceCube observatory

摘要

Radio detection offers the opportunity to measure cosmic ray induced air showers at greater than PeV energiesvia their electromagnetic emission in the MHz region. We intend to use this technique to extend the capability of theIceCube and IceTop detectors at the South Pole to measure cosmic ray observables. The radio emission is dominated bythe electron contribution in the shower maximum, hence providing an integral measure of the shower development. Itsupplements the measurement of high energetic muons deep in the ice by IceCube and the sampling of the air shower onthe surface by IceTop. Using these new, complementary observables, a radio extension can improve the measurement ofthe composition of cosmic rays. Further, the surface radio detector will increase the neutrino sensitivity of IceCube byproviding a veto for air showers. It also may allow the study of photon induced air showers, which contain a smaller muoncomponent than air showers induced by charged particles. We present simulation and experimental studies demonstratingthe feasibility and providing a first impression of the physics potential of this approach.Corresponding authors: Michael DuVernois 2 (duvernois@icecube.wisc.edu)2 Dept. of Physics, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706, USA