2012

Results from the South Pole Acoustic Test Setup (SPATS)

by Dr Freija Descamps (University of Wisconsin)

Pacific/Honolulu
112 (Watanabe Hall)

112

Watanabe Hall

Description
The use of new neutrino detection methods that are sensitive to the radio or acoustic signatures of a UHE neutrino interaction potentially allows a more sparse instrumentation of the detector volume. This opens possibilities for larger sensitive volumes at relatively reasonable cost. The feasibility and specific design of an acoustic neutrino detection array at the South Pole, depends upon the acoustic properties of the ice in the concerned frequency region from 10 kHz to 100 kHz. The South Pole Acoustic Test Setup (SPATS) was built to evaluate the attenuation length, speed of sound, background noise level and transient noise rate of the South Pole ice and was deployed in the 2006/2007 and 2007/2008 polar seasons. In addition to the permanently installed instrumentation, a retrievable transmitter, called pinger, was used at the South Pole in the 2007/2008, 2008/2009 and 2009/2010 seasons. An overview of SPATS, its performance and latest results will be presented.