WavePID: low-energy flavor identification using single-PMT time series in IceCube

Journal of Instrumentation, vol. 21, pp. P09023

Abstract

Abstract The IceCube Neutrino Observatory, a cubic-kilometer detector at the South Pole, identifies neutrino flavor through event morphology. Sparse photon detection makes this classification particularly challenging in the 5–100 GeV regime, the energy range relevant for oscillation measurements and searches for physics beyond the Standard Model. We introduce WavePID , a template-based log-likelihood-ratio classifier that exploits nanosecond-scale timing on individual detector modules through three observables: the distance to the reconstructed vertex, the early-charge fraction, and the module-to-module time difference. Evaluated on a cascade-enriched sample selected by a state-of-the-art graph neural network, WavePID improves both cascade purity and classification performance over the neural network alone. This demonstrates that per-module pulse timing carries flavor-identification information complementary to morphology-based classifiers, opening a new physics-motivated observable for low-energy neutrino reconstruction. Geant4 simulations associate this signal with differences in Cherenkov emission geometry between muon tracks and electromagnetic showers. These results motivate exploiting nanosecond-scale pulse timing in future low-energy classifiers and in detector designs with improved per-module timing in next-generation neutrino telescopes.

Authors 99

1. R. Abbasi

   Loyola University Chicago

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Physics, Loyola University Chicago, Chicago, IL 60660,

2. M. Ackermann

   Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY

   Affiliation as printed

   Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY, Platanenallee 6, D-15738 Zeuthen,

3. Jenni Adams

   University of Canterbury

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Canterbury, Private Bag 4800, Christchurch,

4. J. A. Aguilar

   Université Libre de Bruxelles

   Affiliation as printed

   Université Libre de Bruxelles, Science Faculty CP230, B-1050 Brussels,

5. M. Ahlers

   University of Copenhagen

   Affiliation as printed

   Niels Bohr Institute, University of Copenhagen, DK-2100 Copenhagen,

6. Jean-Marco Alameddine

   TU Dortmund University

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Physics, TU Dortmund University, D-44221 Dortmund,

7. S. Ali

   University of Kansas

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66045,

8. N.M. Amin

   University of Delaware

   Affiliation as printed

   Bartol Research Institute and Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716,

9. K. Andeen

   Marquette University

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Physics, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI 53201,

10. Carlos A. Argüelles

    Harvard University

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Physics and Laboratory for Particle Physics and Cosmology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138,

11. S. Athanasiadou

    Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY

    Affiliation as printed

    Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY, Platanenallee 6, D-15738 Zeuthen,

12. Spencer Axani

    University of Delaware

    Affiliation as printed

    Bartol Research Institute and Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716,

13. Rishi Babu

    Michigan State University

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Physics and Astronomy, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824,

14. X. Bai

    South Dakota School of Mines and Technology

    Affiliation as printed

    Physics Department, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, Rapid City, SD 57701,

15. S. W. Barwick

    University of California, Irvine

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697,

16. Vedant Basu

    University of Utah

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112,

17. R. Bay

    University of California, Berkeley

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Physics, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720,

18. J. J. Beatty

    The Ohio State University

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Astronomy, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210,

    Department of Physics and Center for Cosmology and Astro-Particle Physics, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210,

19. Julia Becker Tjus

    Ruhr University Bochum

    Affiliation as printed

    Fakultät für Physik & Astronomie, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, D-44780 Bochum,

20. P. Behrens Aachen III. Physikalisches Institut

    RWTH Aachen University

    Affiliation as printed

    III. Physikalisches Institut, RWTH Aachen University, D-52056 Aachen,

21. Jakob Beise

    Uppsala University

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    Department of Physics and Astronomy, Uppsala University, Box 516, SE-75120 Uppsala,

22. Chiara Bellenghi

    Technical University of Munich

    Affiliation as printed

    Physik-department, Technische Universität München, D-85748 Garching,

23. S. Benkel

    Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY

    Affiliation as printed

    Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY, Platanenallee 6, D-15738 Zeuthen,

24. S. BenZvi

    University of Rochester

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14627,

25. David Berley

    University of Maryland, College Park

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Physics, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742,

26. E. Bernardini

    University of Padua

    Affiliation as printed

    Dipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia Galileo Galilei, Università Degli Studi di Padova, I-35122 Padova PD,

27. D. Z. Besson

    University of Kansas

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66045,

28. E. Blaufuss

    University of Maryland, College Park

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Physics, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742,

29. L. Bloom

    University of Alabama

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    Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487,

30. Summer Blot

    Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY

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    Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY, Platanenallee 6, D-15738 Zeuthen,

31. F. Bontempo

    Karlsruhe Institute of Technology

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    Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Institute for Astroparticle Physics, D-76021 Karlsruhe,

32. J. Y. Book Motzkin

    Harvard University

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Physics and Laboratory for Particle Physics and Cosmology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138,

33. Caterina Boscolo Meneguolo

    University of Padua

    Affiliation as printed

    Dipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia Galileo Galilei, Università Degli Studi di Padova, I-35122 Padova PD,

34. S. Böser

    Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz

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    Institute of Physics, University of Mainz, Staudinger Weg 7, D-55099 Mainz,

35. O. Botner

    Uppsala University

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Physics and Astronomy, Uppsala University, Box 516, SE-75120 Uppsala,

36. Jakob Bottcher Aachen III. Physikalisches Institut

    RWTH Aachen University

    Affiliation as printed

    III. Physikalisches Institut, RWTH Aachen University, D-52056 Aachen,

37. J. Braun

    University of Wisconsin–Madison

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Physics and Wisconsin IceCube Particle Astrophysics Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706,

38. B. Brinson

    University of Maryland, College Park

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Physics, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742,

39. Z. Brisson-Tsavoussis

    Queen's University

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    Department of Physics, Engineering Physics, and Astronomy, Queen's University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6,

40. L. Brusa

    Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg

    Affiliation as printed

    Erlangen Centre for Astroparticle Physics, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, D-91058 Erlangen,

41. R. T. Burley

    The University of Adelaide

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    Department of Physics, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, 5005,

42. D. Butterfield

    University of Wisconsin–Madison

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Physics and Wisconsin IceCube Particle Astrophysics Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706,

43. Kiara Carloni

    Harvard University

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    Department of Physics and Laboratory for Particle Physics and Cosmology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138,

44. J. Carpio

    University of Nevada, Las Vegas

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Physics & Astronomy, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV 89154,

    Nevada Center for Astrophysics, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV 89154,

45. Thien Nhan Chau

    Université Libre de Bruxelles

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    Université Libre de Bruxelles, Science Faculty CP230, B-1050 Brussels,

46. Y. C. Chen

    University of Delaware

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    Bartol Research Institute and Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716,

47. Z. Chen

    Stony Brook University

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    Department of Physics and Astronomy, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794-3800,

48. D. Chirkin

    University of Wisconsin–Madison

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    Department of Physics and Wisconsin IceCube Particle Astrophysics Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706,

49. S. Choi

    University of Utah

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    Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112,

50. A. Chubarov

    Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg

    Affiliation as printed

    Erlangen Centre for Astroparticle Physics, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, D-91058 Erlangen,

51. B.A. Clark

    University of Maryland, College Park

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    Department of Physics, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742,

52. Gabriel Collin

    Massachusetts Institute of Technology

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Physics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139,

53. Diego Alberto Coloma Borja

    University of Padua

    Affiliation as printed

    Dipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia Galileo Galilei, Università Degli Studi di Padova, I-35122 Padova PD,

54. Amy L. Connolly

    The Ohio State University

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Astronomy, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210,

    Department of Physics and Center for Cosmology and Astro-Particle Physics, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210,

55. Janet M. Conrad

    Massachusetts Institute of Technology

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Physics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139,

56. D. F. Cowen

    Pennsylvania State University

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802,

    Department of Physics, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802,

57. Catherine DE CLERCQ

    Vrije Universiteit Brussel

    Affiliation as printed

    Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Dienst ELEM, B-1050 Brussels,

58. J.J. Delaunay

    Pennsylvania State University

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802,

59. D. Delgado

    Harvard University

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Physics and Laboratory for Particle Physics and Cosmology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138,

60. T. Delmeulle

    Université Libre de Bruxelles

    Affiliation as printed

    Université Libre de Bruxelles, Science Faculty CP230, B-1050 Brussels,

61. S. Deng Aachen III. Physikalisches Institut

    RWTH Aachen University

    Affiliation as printed

    III. Physikalisches Institut, RWTH Aachen University, D-52056 Aachen,

62. P. Desiati

    University of Wisconsin–Madison

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Physics and Wisconsin IceCube Particle Astrophysics Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706,

63. Krijn D. de Vries

    Vrije Universiteit Brussel

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    Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Dienst ELEM, B-1050 Brussels,

64. G. de Wasseige

    UCLouvain

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    UCLouvain, Centre for Cosmology, Particle Physics and Phenomenology, CP3, Chemin du Cyclotron 2, 1348 Louvain-la-Neuve,

65. T. DeYoung

    Michigan State University

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    Department of Physics and Astronomy, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824,

66. Juan Carlos Diaz-Velez

    University of Wisconsin–Madison

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    Department of Physics and Wisconsin IceCube Particle Astrophysics Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706,

67. S. Dikerby

    Michigan State University

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    Department of Physics and Astronomy, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824,

68. T. Ding

    University of Nevada, Las Vegas

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Physics & Astronomy, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV 89154,

    Nevada Center for Astrophysics, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV 89154,

69. M. Dittmer

    University of Münster

    Affiliation as printed

    Institut für Kernphysik, Universität Münster, D-48149 Münster,

70. Alba Domi

    Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg

    Affiliation as printed

    Erlangen Centre for Astroparticle Physics, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, D-91058 Erlangen,

71. L. Draper

    University of Utah

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    Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112,

72. L. Dueser Aachen III. Physikalisches Institut

    RWTH Aachen University

    Affiliation as printed

    III. Physikalisches Institut, RWTH Aachen University, D-52056 Aachen,

73. Daniel Durnford

    University of Alberta

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    Department of Physics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2E1,

74. K. Dutta

    Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz

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    Institute of Physics, University of Mainz, Staudinger Weg 7, D-55099 Mainz,

75. M.A. DuVernois

    University of Wisconsin–Madison

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    Department of Physics and Wisconsin IceCube Particle Astrophysics Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706,

76. T. Ehrhardt

    Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz

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    Institute of Physics, University of Mainz, Staudinger Weg 7, D-55099 Mainz,

77. L. Eidenschink

    Technical University of Munich

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    Physik-department, Technische Universität München, D-85748 Garching,

78. A. Eimer

    Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg

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    Erlangen Centre for Astroparticle Physics, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, D-91058 Erlangen,

79. C. Eldridge

    Ghent University

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    Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Gent, B-9000 Gent,

80. P. Eller

    Technical University of Munich

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    Physik-department, Technische Universität München, D-85748 Garching,

81. E. Ellinger

    University of Wuppertal

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    Department of Physics, University of Wuppertal, D-42119 Wuppertal,

82. D. Elsässer

    TU Dortmund University

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    Department of Physics, TU Dortmund University, D-44221 Dortmund,

83. Robert Engel

    Karlsruhe Institute of Technology

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    Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Institute for Astroparticle Physics, D-76021 Karlsruhe,

    Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Institute of Experimental Particle Physics, D-76021 Karlsruhe,

84. H. Erpenbeck

    University of Wisconsin–Madison

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    Department of Physics and Wisconsin IceCube Particle Astrophysics Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706,

85. W. Esmail

    University of Münster

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    Institut für Kernphysik, Universität Münster, D-48149 Münster,

86. Steven Eulig

    Harvard University

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    Department of Physics and Laboratory for Particle Physics and Cosmology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138,

87. J. Evans

    University of Maryland, College Park

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    Department of Physics, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742,

88. P.A. Evenson

    University of Delaware

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    Bartol Research Institute and Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716,

89. K.L. Fan

    University of Maryland, College Park

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    Department of Physics, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742,

90. Ke Fang

    University of Wisconsin–Madison

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    Department of Physics and Wisconsin IceCube Particle Astrophysics Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706,

91. K. Farrag

    Chiba University · International Center for Hadron Astrophysics, Chiba University

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    Department of Physics and The International Center for Hadron Astrophysics, Chiba University, Chiba 263-8522,

92. Alicia Fattorini

    TU Dortmund University

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    Department of Physics, TU Dortmund University, D-44221 Dortmund,

93. Ali R. Fazely

    Southern University System

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    Department of Physics, Southern University, Baton Rouge, LA 70813,

94. A. Fedynitch

    Institute of Physics, Academia Sinica · Academia Sinica

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    Institute of Physics, Academia Sinica, Taipei, 11529,

95. N. Feigl

    Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin

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    Institut für Physik, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, D-12489 Berlin,

96. Chad Finley

    Stockholm University

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    Oskar Klein Centre and Department of Physics, Stockholm University, SE-10691 Stockholm,

97. D. B. Fox

    Pennsylvania State University

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    Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802,

98. A. Franckowiak

    Ruhr University Bochum

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    Fakultät für Physik & Astronomie, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, D-44780 Bochum,

99. Satoshi Fukami

    Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY

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    Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY, Platanenallee 6, D-15738 Zeuthen,