Enhanced Signal of Astrophysical Tau Neutrinos Propagating through Earth

Journal Article · Thu Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 2001 · Phys.Rev.D

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.66.021302· OSTI ID:1874304

Beacom, John F. ^[1]; Crotty, Patrick ^[2]; Kolb, Edward W. ^[3]

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1. Fermilab
2. Chicago U.
3. Fermilab; Chicago U., Astron. Astrophys. Ctr.; CERN

Earth absorbs $$\nu_e$$ and $$\nu_{\mu}$$ of energies above about 100 TeV. As is well-known, although $$\nu_{\tau}$$ will also disappear through charged-current interactions, the $$\nu_{\tau}$$ flux will be regenerated by prompt tau decays. We show that this process also produces relatively large fluxes of secondary $$\bar{\nu}_e$$ and $$\bar{\nu}_{\mu}$$, greatly enhancing the detectability of the initial $$\nu_{\tau}$$. This is particularly important because at these energies $$\nu_{\tau}$$ is a significant fraction of the expected astrophysical neutrino flux, and only a tiny portion of the atmospheric neutrino flux.

• Research Organization: Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (FNAL), Batavia, IL (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Science (SC), High Energy Physics (HEP) (SC-25)
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-07CH11359
• OSTI ID: 1874304
• Report Number(s): FERMILAB-PUB-01-364-A; CERN-TH-2001-335; arXiv:astro-ph/0111482; oai:inspirehep.net:567172
• Journal Information: Phys.Rev.D, Journal Name: Phys.Rev.D Vol. 66
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS