Limit on the diffuse flux of ultra-high energy tau neutrinos with the surface detector of the Pierre Auger Observatory

Abraham, J.

doi:10.1103/PhysRevD.79.102001

Title: Limit on the diffuse flux of ultra-high energy tau neutrinos with the surface detector of the Pierre Auger Observatory

Journal Article · Sun Mar 01 00:00:00 EST 2009 · Phys.Rev.D

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.79.102001· OSTI ID:1872445

Abraham, J.

Data collected at the Pierre Auger Observatory are used to establish an upper limit on the diffuse flux of tau neutrinos in the cosmic radiation. Earth-skimming $$\nu_{\tau}$$ may interact in the Earth's crust and produce a $$\tau$$ lepton by means of charged-current interactions. The $$\tau$$ lepton may emerge from the Earth and decay in the atmosphere to produce a nearly horizontal shower with a typical signature, a persistent electromagnetic component even at very large atmospheric depths. The search procedure to select events induced by $$\tau$$ decays against the background of normal showers induced by cosmic rays is described. The method used to compute the exposure for a detector continuously growing with time is detailed. Systematic uncertainties in the exposure from the detector, the analysis and the involved physics are discussed. No $$\tau$$ neutrino candidates have been found. For neutrinos in the energy range $$2\times10^{17}$$ eV $$< E_{\nu}$$ $<$ $$2\times10^{19}$$ eV, assuming a diffuse spectrum of the form $$E_{\nu}^{-2}$$, data collected between 1 January 2004 and 30 April 2008 yield a 90% confidence-level upper limit of $$E_\nu^{2} \mathrm{d}N_{\nu_\tau}/\mathrm{d}E_{\nu} < 9 \times 10^{-8}$$ GeV cm$$^{-2}$$ s$$^{-1}$$ sr$$^{-1}$$.

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Research Organization:: Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States); Fermi National Accelerator Lab. (FNAL), Batavia, IL (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Science (SC), High Energy Physics (HEP)

Contributing Organization:: Pierre Auger

DOE Contract Number:: AC02-07CH11359

OSTI ID:: 1872445

Report Number(s):: FERMILAB-PUB-09-667-A; arXiv:0903.3385; oai:inspirehep.net:815819

Journal Information:: Phys.Rev.D, Vol. 79

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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