IceCube Angular Resolution Improvement via Muon Pre-pulse Effect

The IceCube neutrino observatory utilizes Digital Optical Modules (DOMs) to detect Cherenkov photons emitted by charged leptons and hadrons in ice. Each DOM consists of a photomultiplier tube (PMT) enclosed in a spherical transparent glass shell. This study aims at improving IceCube angular resolution for subset of muon tracks by observing and successfully identifying pre-pulses created when muons pass directly through the DOMs. Such a capability will provide us with accurate pivot points in the muon track, significantly benefitting reconstruction algorithms. We study the scenario when a muon either hits the glass shell and emits Cherenkov light, or hits the PMT dynodes directly and creates photoelectrons, thereby creating a pre-pulse that arises before the main pulse caused by Cherenkov emission by the primary lepton in ice.