Management, operations, and maintenance of the icecube neutrino observatory 2026-2031

The National Science Foundation Division of Physics awarded a Cooperative Agreement to the University of Wisconsin - Madison on July 1, 2026, obligating $2.475 million to support management, operations, and maintenance of the IceCube Neutrino Observatory at the Amundsen Scott South Pole Station through June 30, 2031.

The award funds continued operations of the world's most powerful neutrino telescope, which detects high-energy neutrinos from cosmic sources to advance research in fundamental physics, astrophysics, and extreme astrophysical phenomena. Following completion of the IceCube upgrade in 2026, the observatory will operate more than 5,500 optical modules installed in 91 boreholes drilled into the Antarctic ice sheet, maintaining a high detection rate for neutrino events. The project supports development of advanced computing capabilities applicable to data-intensive science and creates opportunities for education and training of students and researchers in cutting-edge scientific and computational skills. Beyond neutrino detection, the observatory will continue studies of deep glacial environments and expand seismic monitoring from one of the quietest locations on Earth, strengthening neutrino physics research and improving knowledge of Antarctic ice properties to support broader geophysical research.

Place of performance is Madison, Wisconsin, with the award issued under the Mathematical and Physical Sciences program (CFDA 47.049).

Abstract

This award will support the continued operations and management of the icecube neutrino observatory (icno) at the amundsen scott south pole station. Icno is the world?s most powerful neutrino telescope. By detecting elusive neutrinos ? Subatomic particles with almost no mass and no electric charge ? The observatory advances research in fundamental physics, astrophysics, and the most extreme phenomena in the universe. With the completion of the icecube upgrade in 2026, icno will operate more than 5,500 optical modules installed in 91 boreholes drilled into the antarctic ICE sheet. The observatory will maintain a high detection rate, supporting the development of advanced computing capabilities with broad benefits across data intensive science. The project will create new opportunities for education, helping train students and researchers in cutting-edge scientific and computational skills. In addition to detecting neutrinos from distant cosmic sources, icno will continue to study deep glacial environments and expand seismic monitoring from one of the quietest locations on earth. These efforts will strengthen studies of neutrino physics, improve knowledge of antarctic ICE properties, and support broader geophysical research. Icecube detects high energy neutrinos that traverse cosmic distances without absorption or deflection, providing a uniquely direct probe of astrophysical environments inaccessible to electromagnetic observations. By reconstructing neutrino events, icno investigates the most energetic and extreme phenomena in the universe, including supernova remnants, active galactic nuclei, and other cosmic phenomena with energies far beyond the capabilities of terrestrial particle accelerators. The 2017 identification of a high energy neutrino coincident with a gamma-RAY flare from the blazar TXS 0506+056 established icno as a cornerstone of multi-messenger astrophysics. Icno will continue to monitor nearly the entire sky with more than 99% uptime, enabling rapid detection of transient neutrino sources. Planned expansions of its real-time alert system will support coordinated campaigns that integrate neutrino detections with gravitational wave signals and broadband electromagnetic observations, with particular emphasis on the large population of optical transients expected from the vera c. Rubin observatory. The integration of the icecube upgrade into operations will extend the detector?s sensitivity to lower energies, improving event reconstruction and TAU neutrino measurements. Reanalysis of the full dataset using enhanced calibrations of antarctic ICE properties will sharpen angular resolution and significantly increase sensitivity across all energy ranges. These improvements will enable world-leading measurements of neutrino oscillation parameters and searches for physics beyond the standard model. Beyond astrophysics, icno will broaden its contributions to glaciology and geophysics through refined characterization of deep ICE optical properties and expanded seismic monitoring. The observatory will also advance the development of cutting-edge artificial intelligence / machine learning techniques for event classification and for improved angular and energy reconstruction across the full detector array. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.- subawards are planned for this award.