News – Page 85

An IceCube neutrino alert triggers the discovery of a supernova

Posted on June 11, 2015 by Silvia Bravo

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On March 30, 2012, IceCube detected two high-energy neutrino events. IceCube immediately sent an alert to several optical and X-ray telescopes—the Robotic Optical Transient Search Experiment (ROTSE), the Palomar Transient Factory (PTF) and the Swift satellite—and a core-collapse supernova was discovered in the PTF images. However, physicists have shown that this was a coincidental discovery and that this supernova is not likely to be the source of the neutrinos in IceCube. These results have been submitted today to the Astrophysical Journal and are the outcome of a joint study between the IceCube Collaboration and members of the PTF Collaboration, the Swift Collaboration and the Pan-STARRS1 Science Consortium. […]

A search for dark matter in the galactic center

Posted on June 9, 2015 by Silvia Bravo

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In a new analysis of the IceCube Collaboration, a search for dark matter annihilation at the Galactic Center is presented using data from May 2010 to May 2011. The highest density of dark matter in the Milky Way is anticipated to concentrate in its center. Dark-matter self-annihilation should then produce a flux of muon neutrinos and other particles that peaks in the direction of this region, which is seen in the Southern Hemisphere by IceCube. The search did not find a neutrino excess, and the researchers have set new limits on the dark-matter self-annihilation cross section. These results have been submitted today to European Physical Journal C. […]

Week 21 at the Pole

Posted on June 5, 2015 by Jean DeMerit

Is that the sun or the moon? That’s the moon alright—since it’s still winter at the South Pole, we know the sun has set and won’t show itself again for awhile. But with such a bright moon, you can see for quite some distance. […]

Week 20 at the Pole

Posted on May 29, 2015 by Jean DeMerit

The auroras have been been bright and lively lately. And even though this one curves downward, it does not bring a frown to mind. In fact, in the the full-sky panorama view it converts to a smile. […]

Spokesperson Olga Botner begins second term leading the IceCube Collaboration

Posted on May 26, 2015 by Silvia Bravo

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Prof. Botner is now starting her second term as the spokesperson for IceCube. Her colleagues have again chosen her to lead the collaboration, and she is ready to continue what is a highly demanding but also rewarding task. […]

Week 19 at the Pole

Posted on May 22, 2015 by Jean DeMerit

Last week was fairly quiet as far as the IceCube detector went—no major happenings there. But the sky, on the other hand, what a scene! The auroras (australis, that is) were particularly brilliant and striking. […]

A new year of data for IceCube

Posted on May 20, 2015 by Silvia Bravo

Not everyone begins a new year on January 1, right? That includes IceCubers, who decided a while ago that mid May would be a good time to start a new year of data for the South Pole neutrino observatory.

The IC86-2014 physics run ended on May 18, 2015, wrapping up another successful year for the IceCube detector. […]

Week 18 at the Pole

Posted on May 14, 2015 by Jean DeMerit

With the sun gone, they can cover up their windows all they want to prevent indoor light from getting outdoors, but they can’t stop the moon from shining. And last week, the moon was out full force, illuminating some interesting structures in the landscape. […]

Week 17 at the Pole

Posted on May 7, 2015 by Jean DeMerit

Winterovers at the South Pole keep their emergency response skills fresh by holding regular drills. Last week was the missing person drill. And even though they are in the Dark Sector, where outdoor lighting is generally eliminated in winter, they had to turn flood lights on the outside of the station to be able to safely guide the drill team back. […]

Week 16 at the Pole

Posted on May 1, 2015 by Jean DeMerit

IceCube’s winterovers spend about thirteen months at the South Pole, trained for and ready to tackle a variety of situations needing their attention. Some weeks are very busy, and some weeks less so, but there is always something going on. […]