Detector optimization figures-of-merit for IceCube’s high-energy extension

With the design and development of next-generation high-energy neutrino detectors, it is important to compare different detector designs to optimize detection probability and science reach. These comparisons are nevertheless difficult due to large uncertainties in current neutrino source model parameters. We examine the role of the most important characteristics of high-energy neutrino searches in the probability of discovering different source types. We derive scaling relations for each considered source and search scenario, which can be used to compare different detector designs with respect to their utility in discovering different source populations. The recovered scaling relations are independent of source strengths, providing a model-independent comparison.