Search for neutrino point sources with IceCube 22-strings

• Published in: arXiv.org
• Main Authors: Bazo Alba, J L, the IceCube Collaboration
• Format: Paper Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Ithaca Cornell University Library, arXiv.org 25.11.2008
• Subjects: Maximum likelihood method; Neutrinos; Northern sky; Physics - Astrophysics of Galaxies; Physics - Cosmology and Nongalactic Astrophysics; Physics - Earth and Planetary Astrophysics; Physics - High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena; Physics - Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics; Physics - Solar and Stellar Astrophysics; Point sources; Searching; Strings
• ISSN: 2331-8422
• DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.0811.4110

The IceCube detector took data in its 22-string configuration in 2007-2008. This data has been analyzed to search for extraterrestrial point sources of neutrinos using several methods. Two main methods are discussed and compared here: the binned and the unbinned maximum likelihood method. The best sky-averaged sensitivity (90% C.L.) is E^2 Phi_nu_mu=1.3 10^-11 TeVcm^-2s^-1 to a generic E^-2 flux of nu_mu over the energy range from 3 TeV to 3 PeV. No neutrino point sources are found from the individual directions of a pre-selected catalogue nor in a search extended to the northern sky. Limits are improved by a factor of two compared to the total statistics collected with the AMANDA-II detector and represent the best results to date.