skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Search for correlations between the arrival directions of IceCube neutrino events and ultrahigh-energy cosmic rays detected by the Pierre Auger Observatory and the Telescope Array

Abstract

This study presents the results of different searches for correlations between very high-energy neutrino candidates detected by IceCube and the highest-energy cosmic rays measured by the Pierre Auger Observatory and the Telescope Array. We first consider samples of cascade neutrino events and of high-energy neutrino-induced muon tracks, which provided evidence for a neutrino flux of astrophysical origin, and study their cross-correlation with the ultrahigh-energy cosmic ray (UHECR) samples as a function of angular separation. We also study their possible directional correlations using a likelihood method stacking the neutrino arrival directions and adopting different assumptions on the size of the UHECR magnetic deflections. Finally, we perform another likelihood analysis stacking the UHECR directions and using a sample of through-going muon tracks optimized for neutrino point-source searches with sub-degree angular resolution. No indications of correlations at discovery level are obtained for any of the searches performed. The smallest of the p-values comes from the search for correlation between UHECRs with IceCube high-energy cascades, a result that should continue to be monitored.

Authors:
; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; more »; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; « less
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States); Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (FNAL), Batavia, IL (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), High Energy Physics (HEP)
Contributing Org.:
The IceCube, Pierre Auger and Telescope Array collaborations
OSTI Identifier:
1454450
Alternate Identifier(s):
OSTI ID: 1244511
Report Number(s):
FERMILAB-PUB-15-520-AD-AE-CD-TD; arXiv:1511.09408
Journal ID: ISSN 1475-7516; ark:/13030/qt93p5k25v; TRN: US1901020
Grant/Contract Number:  
AC02-07CH11359; AC02-05CH11231
Resource Type:
Journal Article: Accepted Manuscript
Journal Name:
Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 2016; Journal Issue: 01; Related Information: © 2016 IOP Publishing Ltd and Sissa Medialab srl.; Journal ID: ISSN 1475-7516
Publisher:
Institute of Physics (IOP)
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS; neutrino experiments; ultra high energy cosmic rays; cosmic ray experiments; neutrino astronomy

Citation Formats

Aartsen, MG, Abraham, K, Ackermann, M, Adams, J, Aguilar, JA, Ahlers, M, Ahrens, M, Altmann, D, Anderson, T, Ansseau, I, Archinger, M, Arguelles, C, Arlen, TC, Auffenberg, J, Bai, X, Barwick, SW, Baum, V, Bay, R, Beatty, JJ, Becker Tjus, J, Becker, KH, Beiser, E, Berghaus, P, Berley, D, Bernardini, E, Bernhard, A, Besson, DZ, Binder, G, Bindig, D, Bissok, M, Blaufuss, E, Blumenthal, J, Boersma, DJ, Bohm, C, Börner, M, Bos, F, Bose, D, Böser, S, Botner, O, Braun, J, Brayeur, L, Bretz, HP, Buzinsky, N, Casey, J, Casier, M, Cheung, E, Chirkin, D, Christov, A, Clark, K, Classen, L, Coenders, S, Cowen, DF, Cruz Silva, AH, Daughhetee, J, Davis, JC, Day, M, De André, JPAM, De Clercq, C, Del Pino Rosendo, E, Dembinski, H, De Ridder, S, Desiati, P, De Vries, KD, De Wasseige, G, De With, M, DeYoung, T, Díaz-Vélez, JC, Di Lorenzo, V, Dumm, JP, Dunkman, M, Eberhardt, B, Ehrhardt, T, Eichmann, B, Euler, S, Evenson, PA, Fahey, S, Fazely, AR, Feintzeig, J, Felde, J, Filimonov, K, Finley, C, Fischer-Wasels, T, Flis, S, Fösig, CC, Fuchs, T, Gaisser, TK, Gaior, R, Gallagher, J, Gerhardt, L, Ghorbani, K, Gier, D, Gladstone, L, Glagla, M, Glüsenkamp, T, Goldschmidt, A, and Golup, G. Search for correlations between the arrival directions of IceCube neutrino events and ultrahigh-energy cosmic rays detected by the Pierre Auger Observatory and the Telescope Array. United States: N. p., 2016. Web. doi:10.1088/1475-7516/2016/01/037.
Aartsen, MG, Abraham, K, Ackermann, M, Adams, J, Aguilar, JA, Ahlers, M, Ahrens, M, Altmann, D, Anderson, T, Ansseau, I, Archinger, M, Arguelles, C, Arlen, TC, Auffenberg, J, Bai, X, Barwick, SW, Baum, V, Bay, R, Beatty, JJ, Becker Tjus, J, Becker, KH, Beiser, E, Berghaus, P, Berley, D, Bernardini, E, Bernhard, A, Besson, DZ, Binder, G, Bindig, D, Bissok, M, Blaufuss, E, Blumenthal, J, Boersma, DJ, Bohm, C, Börner, M, Bos, F, Bose, D, Böser, S, Botner, O, Braun, J, Brayeur, L, Bretz, HP, Buzinsky, N, Casey, J, Casier, M, Cheung, E, Chirkin, D, Christov, A, Clark, K, Classen, L, Coenders, S, Cowen, DF, Cruz Silva, AH, Daughhetee, J, Davis, JC, Day, M, De André, JPAM, De Clercq, C, Del Pino Rosendo, E, Dembinski, H, De Ridder, S, Desiati, P, De Vries, KD, De Wasseige, G, De With, M, DeYoung, T, Díaz-Vélez, JC, Di Lorenzo, V, Dumm, JP, Dunkman, M, Eberhardt, B, Ehrhardt, T, Eichmann, B, Euler, S, Evenson, PA, Fahey, S, Fazely, AR, Feintzeig, J, Felde, J, Filimonov, K, Finley, C, Fischer-Wasels, T, Flis, S, Fösig, CC, Fuchs, T, Gaisser, TK, Gaior, R, Gallagher, J, Gerhardt, L, Ghorbani, K, Gier, D, Gladstone, L, Glagla, M, Glüsenkamp, T, Goldschmidt, A, & Golup, G. Search for correlations between the arrival directions of IceCube neutrino events and ultrahigh-energy cosmic rays detected by the Pierre Auger Observatory and the Telescope Array. United States. https://doi.org/10.1088/1475-7516/2016/01/037
Aartsen, MG, Abraham, K, Ackermann, M, Adams, J, Aguilar, JA, Ahlers, M, Ahrens, M, Altmann, D, Anderson, T, Ansseau, I, Archinger, M, Arguelles, C, Arlen, TC, Auffenberg, J, Bai, X, Barwick, SW, Baum, V, Bay, R, Beatty, JJ, Becker Tjus, J, Becker, KH, Beiser, E, Berghaus, P, Berley, D, Bernardini, E, Bernhard, A, Besson, DZ, Binder, G, Bindig, D, Bissok, M, Blaufuss, E, Blumenthal, J, Boersma, DJ, Bohm, C, Börner, M, Bos, F, Bose, D, Böser, S, Botner, O, Braun, J, Brayeur, L, Bretz, HP, Buzinsky, N, Casey, J, Casier, M, Cheung, E, Chirkin, D, Christov, A, Clark, K, Classen, L, Coenders, S, Cowen, DF, Cruz Silva, AH, Daughhetee, J, Davis, JC, Day, M, De André, JPAM, De Clercq, C, Del Pino Rosendo, E, Dembinski, H, De Ridder, S, Desiati, P, De Vries, KD, De Wasseige, G, De With, M, DeYoung, T, Díaz-Vélez, JC, Di Lorenzo, V, Dumm, JP, Dunkman, M, Eberhardt, B, Ehrhardt, T, Eichmann, B, Euler, S, Evenson, PA, Fahey, S, Fazely, AR, Feintzeig, J, Felde, J, Filimonov, K, Finley, C, Fischer-Wasels, T, Flis, S, Fösig, CC, Fuchs, T, Gaisser, TK, Gaior, R, Gallagher, J, Gerhardt, L, Ghorbani, K, Gier, D, Gladstone, L, Glagla, M, Glüsenkamp, T, Goldschmidt, A, and Golup, G. 2016. "Search for correlations between the arrival directions of IceCube neutrino events and ultrahigh-energy cosmic rays detected by the Pierre Auger Observatory and the Telescope Array". United States. https://doi.org/10.1088/1475-7516/2016/01/037. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1454450.
@article{osti_1454450,
title = {Search for correlations between the arrival directions of IceCube neutrino events and ultrahigh-energy cosmic rays detected by the Pierre Auger Observatory and the Telescope Array},
author = {Aartsen, MG and Abraham, K and Ackermann, M and Adams, J and Aguilar, JA and Ahlers, M and Ahrens, M and Altmann, D and Anderson, T and Ansseau, I and Archinger, M and Arguelles, C and Arlen, TC and Auffenberg, J and Bai, X and Barwick, SW and Baum, V and Bay, R and Beatty, JJ and Becker Tjus, J and Becker, KH and Beiser, E and Berghaus, P and Berley, D and Bernardini, E and Bernhard, A and Besson, DZ and Binder, G and Bindig, D and Bissok, M and Blaufuss, E and Blumenthal, J and Boersma, DJ and Bohm, C and Börner, M and Bos, F and Bose, D and Böser, S and Botner, O and Braun, J and Brayeur, L and Bretz, HP and Buzinsky, N and Casey, J and Casier, M and Cheung, E and Chirkin, D and Christov, A and Clark, K and Classen, L and Coenders, S and Cowen, DF and Cruz Silva, AH and Daughhetee, J and Davis, JC and Day, M and De André, JPAM and De Clercq, C and Del Pino Rosendo, E and Dembinski, H and De Ridder, S and Desiati, P and De Vries, KD and De Wasseige, G and De With, M and DeYoung, T and Díaz-Vélez, JC and Di Lorenzo, V and Dumm, JP and Dunkman, M and Eberhardt, B and Ehrhardt, T and Eichmann, B and Euler, S and Evenson, PA and Fahey, S and Fazely, AR and Feintzeig, J and Felde, J and Filimonov, K and Finley, C and Fischer-Wasels, T and Flis, S and Fösig, CC and Fuchs, T and Gaisser, TK and Gaior, R and Gallagher, J and Gerhardt, L and Ghorbani, K and Gier, D and Gladstone, L and Glagla, M and Glüsenkamp, T and Goldschmidt, A and Golup, G},
abstractNote = {This study presents the results of different searches for correlations between very high-energy neutrino candidates detected by IceCube and the highest-energy cosmic rays measured by the Pierre Auger Observatory and the Telescope Array. We first consider samples of cascade neutrino events and of high-energy neutrino-induced muon tracks, which provided evidence for a neutrino flux of astrophysical origin, and study their cross-correlation with the ultrahigh-energy cosmic ray (UHECR) samples as a function of angular separation. We also study their possible directional correlations using a likelihood method stacking the neutrino arrival directions and adopting different assumptions on the size of the UHECR magnetic deflections. Finally, we perform another likelihood analysis stacking the UHECR directions and using a sample of through-going muon tracks optimized for neutrino point-source searches with sub-degree angular resolution. No indications of correlations at discovery level are obtained for any of the searches performed. The smallest of the p-values comes from the search for correlation between UHECRs with IceCube high-energy cascades, a result that should continue to be monitored.},
doi = {10.1088/1475-7516/2016/01/037},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1454450}, journal = {Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics},
issn = {1475-7516},
number = 01,
volume = 2016,
place = {United States},
year = {Wed Jan 20 00:00:00 EST 2016},
month = {Wed Jan 20 00:00:00 EST 2016}
}

Journal Article:
Free Publicly Available Full Text
Publisher's Version of Record

Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 30 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

Save / Share:

Works referenced in this record:

Evidence for Astrophysical Muon Neutrinos from the Northern Sky with IceCube
journal, August 2015


Cosmological magnetic fields: their generation, evolution and observation
journal, June 2013


Measurement of the cosmic ray energy spectrum using hybrid events of the Pierre Auger Observatory
journal, August 2012


Searches for Extended and Point-Like Neutrino Sources with four Years of Icecube data
journal, November 2014


Methods for point source analysis in high energy neutrino telescopes
journal, May 2008


SEARCH FOR TIME-INDEPENDENT NEUTRINO EMISSION FROM ASTROPHYSICAL SOURCES WITH 3 yr OF IceCube DATA
journal, December 2013


Magnetic Fields in Diffuse Media
book, January 2015


Evidence for High-Energy Extraterrestrial Neutrinos at the IceCube Detector
journal, November 2013


The surface detector array of the Telescope Array experiment
journal, October 2012

  • Abu-Zayyad, T.; Aida, R.; Allen, M.
  • Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment, Vol. 689
  • https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2012.05.079

Calibration and characterization of the IceCube photomultiplier tube
journal, June 2010

  • Abbasi, R.; Abdou, Y.; Abu-Zayyad, T.
  • Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment, Vol. 618, Issue 1-3
  • https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2010.03.102

End to the Cosmic-Ray Spectrum?
journal, April 1966


Deflections of cosmic rays in a random component of the Galactic magnetic field
journal, September 2005


Cosmic ray bound for models of extragalactic neutrino production
journal, December 2000


Deriving the Global Structure of the Galactic Magnetic Field from Faraday Rotation Measures of Extragalactic Sources
journal, August 2011


Reconstruction of inclined air showers detected with the Pierre Auger Observatory
journal, August 2014


First year performance of the IceCube neutrino telescope
journal, October 2006


Extragalactic magnetic fields
journal, April 1994


The Large-Sample Distribution of the Likelihood Ratio for Testing Composite Hypotheses
journal, March 1938


The Pierre Auger Cosmic Ray Observatory
journal, July 2015

  • The Pierre Auger Collaboration,
  • Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment, Vol. 798, p. 172-213
  • https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2015.06.058

The Cosmic-Ray Energy Spectrum Observed with the Surface Detector of the Telescope Array Experiment
journal, April 2013


TIME-INTEGRATED SEARCHES FOR POINT-LIKE SOURCES OF NEUTRINOS WITH THE 40-STRING IceCube DETECTOR
journal, April 2011


High energy neutrinos from astrophysical sources: An upper bound
journal, December 1998


Trigger and aperture of the surface detector array of the Pierre Auger Observatory
journal, January 2010

  • Abraham, J.; Abreu, P.; Aglietta, M.
  • Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment, Vol. 613, Issue 1
  • https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2009.11.018

Angular correlation of cosmic neutrinos with ultrahigh-energy cosmic rays and implications for their sources
journal, August 2015


The Galactic magnetic field and ultrahigh-energy cosmic ray deflections
journal, April 2014


Properties and performance of the prototype instrument for the Pierre Auger Observatory
journal, May 2004

  • Abraham, J.; Aglietta, M.; Aguirre, I. C.
  • Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment, Vol. 523, Issue 1-2
  • https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2003.12.012

A new Model of the Galactic Magnetic Field
journal, August 2012


Observation of the Suppression of the Flux of Cosmic Rays above 4 × 10 19 eV
journal, August 2008


Observation of High-Energy Astrophysical Neutrinos in Three Years of IceCube Data
journal, September 2014


Is the Ultra-High Energy Cosmic-Ray Excess Observed by the Telescope Array Correlated with Icecube Neutrinos?
journal, October 2014


The IceCube data acquisition system: Signal capture, digitization, and timestamping
journal, April 2009

  • Abbasi, R.; Ackermann, M.; Adams, J.
  • Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment, Vol. 601, Issue 3
  • https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2009.01.001

Works referencing / citing this record:

Multi-Messenger Physics With the Pierre Auger Observatory
text, January 2019


Russian–German Astroparticle Data Life Cycle Initiative
text, January 2018


Monitoring and Multi-Messenger Astronomy with IceCube
journal, March 2019


Russian–German Astroparticle Data Life Cycle Initiative
text, January 2018


Multi-Messenger Physics With the Pierre Auger Observatory
journal, April 2019