Feasibility study of a new proton decay experiment at the South Pole

• Applicant: Professorin Dr. Elisa Resconi
• Subject Area: Astrophysics and Astronomy
• Term: from 2012 to 2015
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 207495608

The astroparticle physics community is searching for a practical way to improve the sensitivity to proton decay, which is one of the most exciting prediction of Grand Unified Theories and a fundamental corner stone for the understanding of matter anti-matter asymmetry observed in the Universe. The extension of existing and construction of new deep underground laboratories in Europe, Japan and USA is under investigation and challenged by enormous excavation and engineering costs. Here, we want to investigate whether the IceCube Neutrino Observatory with its GigaTon instrumented mass offers a valuable and cost effective alternative. We want to study the optimal geometry of an array of multi-PMTs modules to be deployed inside IceCube. IceCube will be operated as active veto providing an effective shielding equivalent to deep underground sites. The proposed feasibility study will utilize simulation and new computing technology. Moreover, a request for R&D on new photon detectors and multi-PMTs module is also contained in this proposal.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants