The IceCube Neutrino Observatory: instrumentation and online systems

TLDR

The IceCube Neutrino Observatory, a cubic‑kilometer‑scale high‑energy neutrino detector built into the South Pole ice, was completed in 2011 and enabled the discovery of high‑energy astrophysical neutrinos. The authors describe the design, production, and calibration of the IceCube digital optical module (DOM), cable systems, computing hardware, and the methodology for drilling and deployment. They also describe the online triggering and data‑filtering systems that select candidate neutrino and cosmic‑ray events for analysis. A rigorous pre‑deployment protocol has resulted in 98.4 % of DOMs operating, with IceCube maintaining a 99 % uptime through software stability and monitoring, and operations have remained stable since 2011, projected to continue through the next decade.

Abstract

The IceCube Neutrino Observatory is a cubic-kilometer-scale high-energy neutrino detector built into the ice at the South Pole. Construction of IceCube, the largest neutrino detector built to date, was completed in 2011 and enabled the discovery of high-energy astrophysical neutrinos. We describe here the design, production, and calibration of the IceCube digital optical module (DOM), the cable systems, computing hardware, and our methodology for drilling and deployment. We also describe the online triggering and data filtering systems that select candidate neutrino and cosmic ray events for analysis. Due to a rigorous pre-deployment protocol, 98.4% of the DOMs in the deep ice are operating and collecting data. IceCube routinely achieves a detector uptime of 99% by emphasizing software stability and monitoring. Detector operations have been stable since construction was completed, and the detector is expected to operate at least until the end of the next decade.