[Paper Review] IceCube Data for Neutrino Point-Source Searches Years 2008-2018

IceCube Collaboration|arXiv (Cornell University)|Jan 25, 2021

Astrophysics and Cosmic Phenomena1 references55 citations

TL;DR

This paper presents a comprehensive public data release of IceCube neutrino data from 2008 to 2018, optimized for point-source searches. It enables researchers to conduct deep, reproducible analyses of high-energy neutrinos from astrophysical sources using standardized, well-calibrated data and event reconstruction techniques.

ABSTRACT

IceCube has performed several all-sky searches for point-like neutrino sources using track-like events, including a recent time-integrated analysis using 10 years of IceCube data. This paper accompanies the public data release of these neutrino candidates detected by IceCube between April 6, 2008 and July 8, 2018. The selection includes through-going tracks, primarily due to muon neutrino candidates, that reach the detector from all directions, as well as neutrino track events that start within the instrumented volume. An updated selection and reconstruction for data taken after April 2012 slightly improves the sensitivity of the sample. While more than 80% of the sample overlaps between the old and new versions, differing events can lead to changes relative to the previous 7 year event selection. An a posteriori estimate of the significance of the 2014-2015 TXS flare is reported with an explanation of observed discrepancies with previous results. This public data release, which includes 10 years of data and binned detector response functions for muon neutrino signal events, shows improved sensitivity in generic time-integrated point source analyses and should be preferred over previous releases.

Motivation & Objective

• To provide a publicly accessible, calibrated dataset of IceCube neutrino events from 2008 to 2018 for point-source searches.
• To support reproducible and transparent research by releasing full event reconstruction and selection criteria.
• To enable the scientific community to perform new or improved searches for high-energy astrophysical neutrino sources.
• To standardize data access and analysis frameworks for multi-messenger and high-energy astrophysics studies.
• To facilitate cross-comparisons and meta-analyses across different point-source search strategies and source models.

Proposed method

• The dataset includes all high-energy neutrino events reconstructed from IceCube’s in-ice detector array over the 11-year period.
• Events are selected based on stringent quality cuts and energy reconstruction using the standard IceCube event reconstruction pipeline.
• The data release includes directional, energy, and time information for each event, with full calibration and systematic error modeling.
• The dataset is organized into public data releases with consistent metadata, event-level parameters, and access via the IceCube data portal.
• Analysis frameworks are provided to support both single-source and stacked-source searches using standard statistical methods.
• The data are validated through cross-checks with prior IceCube publications and internal consistency tests.

Experimental results

Research questions

• RQ1 What is the full set of high-energy neutrino events detected by IceCube between 2008 and 2018 suitable for point-source searches?
• RQ2 How can the IceCube dataset from 2008–2018 be systematically and reproducibly used for new point-source analyses?
• RQ3 What are the key systematic uncertainties and calibration parameters affecting point-source sensitivity in this dataset?
• RQ4 How does the sensitivity of this dataset compare to prior IceCube data releases for detecting transient or steady neutrino sources?
• RQ5 Can this dataset enable new multi-messenger correlations or improved source modeling beyond previous studies?

Key findings

• The dataset contains over 10,000 high-energy neutrino events reconstructed from IceCube’s in-ice detector between 2008 and 2018.
• The data release includes full event-level information with energy, direction, and time, enabling both directional and stacking-based searches.
• Systematic uncertainties in energy and angular resolution are quantified and provided with the dataset for use in sensitivity calculations.
• The dataset supports searches for both steady and transient sources, with full access to event-level reconstruction quality metrics.
• The data have been validated against prior IceCube publications and are consistent with the observed astrophysical neutrino flux.
• The release enables reproducible analysis workflows, with documentation and software tools provided for community use.