AMANDA: Antarctic Muon And Neutrino Detector Array

Abstract

Enormous detectors with unprecedented sensitivity will be required to search for astrophysical sources of neutrinos. If the transparency of deep polar ice is similar to that measured in the laboratory, then AMANDA (Antarctic Muon And Neutrino Detector Array) may be the most cost-effective way to reach the detector volumes required to search for astrophysical sources of high energy neutrinos or WIMP annihilation within the sun.

We describe a series of tests that will be conducted near the South Pole Station during the ’91–’92 Antarctic campaign. The primary goal of these tests is to extend the optical transparency measurements of polar ice to a depth of one kilometer by measuring the rate of downward-moving muons with a prototype string of 4 optical modules. Additional objectives include the measurement of up/down discrimination, background light levels, and timing resolution. The design of the prototype string and its expected performance based on laboratory calibrations are discussed.