# CAREER: Discovery of Composition-Enriched Cosmic Ray Anisotropy with the IceCube Neutrino Observatory

> **NSF 01002526DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT** · South Dakota School of Mines and Technology (SD) · $900,000

## Abstract

Cosmic rays, which are mostly made up of atomic nuclei, carry energies that far exceed what we can achieve with our human-made accelerators. Despite this, many important details about where these rays come from, how they gain energy, and how they travel through space are still not fully understood. Unlike neutral particles, such as gamma rays or neutrinos, cosmic rays are affected by magnetic fields in galaxies. This interaction complicates our ability to trace them back to their original sources. This project leverages the IceCube Neutrino Observatory located at the South Pole to examine extensive air showers that occur when cosmic rays collide with the Earth’s atmosphere. The project includes a strong educational component designed to engage high school and undergraduate students in practical physics research. This will be achieved through outreach programs, and with the development of new curriculum modules that focuses on data science in physics. By introducing students to the latest machine learning techniques applicable to particle astrophysics, we aim to cultivate essential computational skills that will benefit them in both academic and professional settings.

This research combines data from IceTop, IceAct, and the IceCube in-ice detector to achieve the first enhanced measurement of cosmic-ray anisotropy in the southern hemisphere. Using data from various detection methods the project aims to better understand the mass composition, energy, and arrival directions of

## Key facts

- **NSF award ID:** 2443575
- **Awardee organization:** South Dakota School of Mines and Technology (SD)
- **SAM.gov UEI:** CJAJYT2KW771
- **PI:** Matthias Plum
- **Primary program:** 01002526DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT
- **All programs:** Windows on the Universe (WoU), Artificial Intelligence (AI), CAREER-Faculty Erly Career Dev, ANTARCTIC AERONOMY & ASTROPHYS, EXP PROG TO STIM COMP RES
- **Estimated total:** $900,000
- **Funds obligated:** $900,000
- **Transaction type:** Continuing Grant
- **Period:** 07/01/2025 → 06/30/2030

## Primary source

NSF Award Search: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2443575

## Citation

> US National Science Foundation, Award 2443575, CAREER: Discovery of Composition-Enriched Cosmic Ray Anisotropy with the IceCube Neutrino Observatory. Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-07 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nsf/2443575. Licensed CC0.

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