| 1. |
- Abbasi, R., et al.
(author)
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SEARCH FOR HIGH-ENERGY MUON NEUTRINOS FROM THE "NAKED-EYE" GRB 080319B WITH THE IceCube NEUTRINO TELESCOPE
- 2009
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In: Astrophysical Journal. - 0004-637X .- 1538-4357. ; 701:2, s. 1721-1731
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We report on a search with the IceCube detector for high-energy muon neutrinos from GRB 080319B, one of the brightest gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) ever observed. The fireball model predicts that a mean of 0.1 events should be detected by IceCube for a bulk Lorentz boost of the jet of 300. In both the direct on-time window of 66 s and an extended window of about 300 s around the GRB, no excess was found above background. The 90% CL upper limit on the number of track-like events from the GRB is 2.7, corresponding to a muon neutrino fluence limit of 9.5 x 10(-3) erg cm(-2) in the energy range between 120 TeV and 2.2 PeV, which contains 90% of the expected events.
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| 2. |
- Abbasi, R., et al.
(author)
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Search for point sources of high energy neutrinos with final data from AMANDA-II
- 2009
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In: Physical Review D. - 1550-7998 .- 1550-2368. ; 79, s. 062001-
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We present a search for point sources of high energy neutrinos using 3.8 yr of data recorded by AMANDA-II during 2000-2006. After reconstructing muon tracks and applying selection criteria designed to optimally retain neutrino-induced events originating in the northern sky, we arrive at a sample of 6595 candidate events, predominantly from atmospheric neutrinos with primary energy 100 GeV to 8 TeV. Our search of this sample reveals no indications of a neutrino point source. We place the most stringent limits to date on E(-2) neutrino fluxes from points in the northern sky, with an average upper limit of E(2)Phi(nu mu)+nu(tau)<= 5.2x10(-11) TeV cm(-2) s(-1) on the sum of nu(mu) and nu(tau) fluxes, assumed equal, over the energy range from 1.9 TeV to 2.5 PeV.
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| 3. |
- Abbasi, R., et al.
(author)
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Solar energetic particle spectrum on 2006 December 13 determined by IceTop
- 2008
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In: Astrophysical Journal. - : American Astronomical Society. - 0004-637X .- 1538-4357. ; 689:1, s. L65-L68
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- On 2006 December 13 the IceTop air shower array at the South Pole detected a major solar particle event. By numerically simulating the response of the IceTop tanks, which are thick Cerenkov detectors with multiple thresholds deployed at high altitude with no geomagnetic cutoff, we determined the particle energy spectrum in the energy range 0.6-7.6 GeV. This is the first such spectral measurement using a single instrument with a well-defined viewing direction. We compare the IceTop spectrum and its time evolution with previously published results and outline plans for improved resolution of future solar particle spectra.
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| 4. |
- Abbasi, R., et al.
(author)
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The IceCube data acquisition system : Signal capture, digitization, and timestamping
- 2009
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In: Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A. - : Elsevier BV. - 0168-9002 .- 1872-9576. ; 601:3, s. 294-316
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- IceCube is a km-scale neutrino observatory under construction at the South Pole with sensors both in the deep ice (InIce) and on the surface (IceTop). The sensors, called Digital Optical Modules (DOMs). detect, digitize and timestamp the signals from optical Cherenkov-radiation photons. The DOM Main Board (MB) data acquisition subsystem is connected to the central DAQ in the IceCube Laboratory (ICL) by a single twisted copper wire-pair and transmits packetized data on demand. Time calibration is maintained throughout the array by regular transmission to the DOMs of precisely timed analog signals, synchronized to a central GPS-disciplined clock. The design goals and consequent features, functional capabilities, and initial performance of the DOM MB, and the operation of a combined array of DOMs as a system, are described here. Experience with the first InIce strings and the IceTop stations indicates that the system design and performance goals have been achieved. (c) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
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| 5. |
- Abbasi, R, et al.
(author)
-
Limits on a Muon Flux from Neutralino Annihilations in the Sun with the IceCube 22-String Detector
- 2009
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In: Physical Review Letters. - 0031-9007 .- 1079-7114. ; 102:20, s. 201302-
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- A search for muon neutrinos from neutralino annihilations in the Sun has been performed with the IceCube 22-string neutrino detector using data collected in 104.3 days of live time in 2007. No excess over the expected atmospheric background has been observed. Upper limits have been obtained on the annihilation rate of captured neutralinos in the Sun and converted to limits on the weakly interacting massive particle (WIMP) proton cross sections for WIMP masses in the range 250-5000 GeV. These results are the most stringent limits to date on neutralino annihilation in the Sun.
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| 6. |
- Abbasi, R, et al.
(author)
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Determination of the atmospheric neutrino flux and searches for new physics with AMANDA-II
- 2009
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In: Physical Review D. - 1550-7998 .- 1550-2368. ; 79, s. 102005-
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The AMANDA-II detector, operating since 2000 in the deep ice at the geographic South Pole, has accumulated a large sample of atmospheric muon neutrinos in the 100 GeV to 10 TeV energy range. The zenith angle and energy distribution of these events can be used to search for various phenomenological signatures of quantum gravity in the neutrino sector, such as violation of Lorentz invariance or quantum decoherence. Analyzing a set of 5511 candidate neutrino events collected during 1387 days of livetime from 2000 to 2006, we find no evidence for such effects and set upper limits on violation of Lorentz invariance and quantum decoherence parameters using a maximum likelihood method. Given the absence of evidence for new flavor-changing physics, we use the same methodology to determine the conventional atmospheric muon neutrino flux above 100 GeV.
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| 7. |
- Abbasi, R, et al.
(author)
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Extending the Search for Neutrino Point Sources with IceCube above the Horizon
- 2009
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In: Physical Review Letters. - 0031-9007 .- 1079-7114. ; 103:22, s. 221102-
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Point source searches with the IceCube neutrino telescope have been restricted to one hemisphere, due to the exclusive selection of upward going events as a way of rejecting the atmospheric muon background. We show that the region above the horizon can be included by suppressing the background through energy-sensitive cuts. This improves the sensitivity above PeV energies, previously not accessible for declinations of more than a few degrees below the horizon due to the absorption of neutrinos in Earth. We present results based on data collected with 22 strings of IceCube, extending its field of view and energy reach for point source searches. No significant excess above the atmospheric background is observed in a sky scan and in tests of source candidates. Upper limits are reported, which for the first time cover point sources in the southern sky up to EeV energies.
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| 8. |
- Abbasi, R, et al.
(author)
-
FIRST NEUTRINO POINT-SOURCE RESULTS FROM THE 22 STRING ICECUBE DETECTOR
- 2009
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In: Astrophysical Journal Letters. - 2041-8205. ; 701, s. L47-L51
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We present new results of searches for neutrino point sources in the northern sky, using data recorded in 2007-2008 with 22 strings of the IceCube detector (approximately one-fourth of the planned total) and 275.7 days of live time. The final sample of 5114 neutrino candidate events agrees well with the expected background of atmospheric muon neutrinos and a small component of atmospheric muons. No evidence of a point source is found, with the most significant excess of events in the sky at 2.2 sigma after accounting for all trials. The average upper limit over the northern sky for point sources of muon-neutrinos with E-2 spectrum is E-2 Phi(v mu) < 1.4 x 10(-11) TeV cm(-2) s(-1), in the energy range from 3 TeV to 3 PeV, improving the previous best average upper limit by the AMANDA-II detector by a factor of 2.
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| 9. |
- Ackermann, M., et al.
(author)
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Search for ultra-high-energy neutrinos with amanda-II
- 2008
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In: Astrophysical Journal. - 0004-637X .- 1538-4357. ; 675:2, s. 1014-1024
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- A search for diffuse neutrinos with energies in excess of 10(5) GeV is conducted with AMANDA-II data recorded between 2000 and 2002. Above 10(7) GeV, the Earth is essentially opaque to neutrinos. This fact, combined with the limited overburden of the AMANDA-II detector ( roughly 1.5 km), concentrates these ultra-high-energy neutrinos at the horizon. The primary background for this analysis is bundles of downgoing, high-energy muons from the interaction of cosmic rays in the atmosphere. No statistically significant excess above the expected background is seen in the data, and an upper limit is set on the diffuse all-flavor neutrino flux of E-2 Phi(90%CL) < 2.7x10(-7) GeV cm(-2) s(-1) sr(-1) valid over the energy range of 2x10(5) to 10(9) GeV. A number of models that predict neutrino fluxes from active galactic nuclei are excluded at the 90% confidence level.
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| 10. |
- Achterberg, A., et al.
(author)
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Detection of atmospheric muon neutrinos with the IceCube 9-string detector
- 2007
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In: Physical Review D - Particles, Fields, Gravitation and Cosmology. - 1550-7998. ; 76:2, s. 027101-
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The IceCube neutrino detector is a cubic kilometer TeV to PeV neutrino detector under construction at the geographic South Pole. The dominant population of neutrinos detected in IceCube is due to meson decay in cosmic-ray air showers. These atmospheric neutrinos are relatively well understood and serve as a calibration and verification tool for the new detector. In 2006, the detector was approximately 10% completed, and we report on data acquired from the detector in this configuration. We observe an atmospheric neutrino signal consistent with expectations, demonstrating that the IceCube detector is capable of identifying neutrino events. In the first 137.4 days of live time, 234 neutrino candidates were selected with an expectation of 211 +/- 76.1(syst)+/- 14.5(stat) events from atmospheric neutrinos.
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| 11. |
- Achterberg, A., et al.
(author)
-
Multiyear search for a diffuse flux of muon neutrinos with AMANDA-II
- 2007
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In: Physical Review D - Particles, Fields, Gravitation and Cosmology. - 1550-7998. ; 76:4, s. 042008-
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- A search for TeV-PeV muon neutrinos from unresolved sources was performed on AMANDA-II data collected between 2000 and 2003 with an equivalent live time of 807 days. This diffuse analysis sought to find an extraterrestrial neutrino flux from sources with nonthermal components. The signal is expected to have a harder spectrum than the atmospheric muon and neutrino backgrounds. Since no excess of events was seen in the data over the expected background, an upper limit of E-2 Phi(90%C.L.)< 7.4x10(-8) GeV cm(-2) s(-1) sr(-1) is placed on the diffuse flux of muon neutrinos with a Phi proportional to E-2 spectrum in the energy range 16 TeV to 2.5 PeV. This is currently the most sensitive Phi proportional to E-2 diffuse astrophysical neutrino limit. We also set upper limits for astrophysical and prompt neutrino models, all of which have spectra different from Phi proportional to E-2.
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| 12. |
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| 13. |
- Brenning, Nils, et al.
(author)
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Radiation from an electron beam in a magnetized plasma : Whistler mode wave packets
- 2006
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In: Journal of Geophysical Research. - : American Geophysical Union (AGU). - 0148-0227 .- 2156-2202. ; 111:A11
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Experimental studies are reported of oscillations and radiation that is spontaneously excited by an electron beam which is shot along a diverging magnetic field into a plasma from a hot cathode. In the present study we focus on oscillations below the electron gyrofrequency, where we find that whistler mode radiation appears in the form of bursts, or wave packets, each with typically 0.1-1 mu s time duration, and which together cover typically a few percent of the full time. Wave packets are found in a broad frequency range of 7-40 MHz, while each individual wave packet is dominated by a single frequency. There is propagation along two routes: at the group velocity resonance cone angle, away from the central channel where the waves are excited, and in a channel along the magnetic field. Features of the whistler mode wave packets that are studied include (1) the statistics of amplitudes, frequencies, and time durations; (2) the propagation and decay of wave packets with different frequencies; (3) the group and phase velocities; and (4) how the wave packet production varies with the energy, and the current density, in the electron beam.
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| 14. |
- Finnegan, S. M., et al.
(author)
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The dispersive Alfven wave in the time-stationary limit with a focus on collisional and warm-plasma effects
- 2008
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In: Physics of Plasmas. - : AIP Publishing. - 1070-664X .- 1089-7674. ; 15:5, s. 052108-
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- A nonlinear, collisional, two-fluid model of uniform plasma convection across a field-aligned current (FAC) sheet, describing the stationary Alfven (StA) wave, is presented. In a previous work, Knudsen showed that, for cold, collisionless plasma [D. J. Knudsen, J. Geophys. Res. 101, 10761 (1996)], the stationary inertial Alfven (StIA) wave can accelerate electrons parallel to a background magnetic field and cause large, time-independent plasma-density variations having spatial periodicity in the direction of the convective flow over a broad range of spatial scales and energies. Knudsen suggested that these fundamental properties of the StIA wave may play a role in the formation of discrete auroral arcs. Here, Knudsen's model has been generalized for warm, collisional plasma. From this generalization, it is shown that nonzero ion-neutral and electron-ion collisional resistivity significantly alters the perpendicular ac and dc structure of magnetic-field-aligned electron drift, and can either dissipate or enhance the field-aligned electron energy depending on the initial value of field-aligned electron drift velocity. It is also shown that nonzero values of plasma pressure increase the dominant Fourier component of perpendicular wavenumber.
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| 15. |
- Gunell, H., et al.
(author)
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Numerical experiments on plasmoids entering a transverse magnetic field
- 2009
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In: Physics of Plasmas. - : AIP Publishing. - 1070-664X .- 1089-7674. ; 16:11
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Plasma from the Earth's magnetosheath has previously been observed inside the magnetosphere. Inhomogeneities in the magnetosheath plasma, here called plasmoids, can impact the magnetopause and doing so set up a polarizing field that allows it to penetrate the magnetopause and enter the magnetosphere. A set of simulations of plasmoids with different dimensions is presented in this paper. For plasmoids that are longer than those previously published, waves propagating upstream from the barrier are found. It is also found that the penetration process causes the part of the plasmoid that is upstream of the barrier to rotate. The role of plasmoid width and cross sectional shape in penetration is studied, and for plasmoids that are less than half an ion gyroradius wide, the plasmoid is compressed to obtain a vertically oriented elliptical cross section, regardless of the initial shape. When the initial plasmoid width exceeds the ion gyroradius, the plasmoid still penetrates through a mechanism involving a potential that propagates upstream from the magnetic barrier.
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| 16. |
- Gunell, H., et al.
(author)
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Simulations of a plasmoid penetrating a magnetic barrier
- 2008
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In: Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion. - : IOP Publishing. - 0741-3335 .- 1361-6587. ; 50:7
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Plasma structures, here typified by the term 'plasmoids', in the solar wind impacting on the magnetopause, i. e. the boundary between the solar wind and the Earth's magnetosphere, can penetrate this boundary and be injected into the magnetosphere. This can happen either by expulsion of the magnetic field from the structure and subsequent diffusion of the magnetic field into the structure or by the formation of a polarization electric field that lets the plasma structure E x B- drift into the earth's magnetic field. In both cases a collisionless resistivity is required at some stage of the process. While magnetic expulsion requires electromagnetic models for its description, polarization can be modelled electrostatically and both processes can be, and have been, studied in laboratory experiments. We present three-dimensional electrostatic particle-in-cell simulations that reproduce large-amplitude waves, in the lower-hybrid range, that have been observed in laboratory experiments. Lower-hybrid waves have also been seen at the magnetopause of the earth. We consider the implications for spacecraft-based studies of magnetopause penetration, and suggest that the search for penetrating plasma structures should emphasize cases in which the interplanetary magnetic field is oriented northwards, as this configuration is less likely for reconnection. The application of theoretical predictions to the magnetopause environment shows that a plasma structure penetrating via polarization needs to be small, i. e. less than 10-100 km wide for typical parameters, and that wave processes at the magnetopause are needed to create such small structures. A larger structure can penetrate by means of magnetic expulsion.
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| 17. |
- Shukla, Padma Kant, et al.
(author)
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Electron parallel-flow shear driven low-frequency electromagnetic modes in collisionless magnetoplasma
- 2006
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In: Physics of Plasmas. - Melville : American Institute of Physics (AIP). - 1070-664X .- 1089-7674. ; 13:5
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The free energy associated with shear in the equilibrium parallel electron velocity is shown to be responsible for the excitation of low-frequency electromagnetic waves in collisionless magnetoplasma. New dispersion relations are derived by using the hydrodynamic equations for the electron fluid, the magnetic-field-aligned (parallel) drift of which varies in one of the perpendicular directions, and by using a kinetic ion model, together with Ampere's law and Poisson's equation. The dispersion relations are analyzed both analytically and numerically for a set of parameters representative of a laboratory experiment. New filamentary instabilities are predicted.
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