Tau neutrino astronomy in GeV energies

Journal Article · Sun May 15 04:00:00 EDT 2005 · Physical Review. D, Particles Fields

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.71.103008· OSTI ID:20709238

Athar, H; Lee, F -F; Lin, G -L ^[1]

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1. Physics Division, National Center for Theoretical Sciences, Hsinchu 300, Taiwan (China)

We point out the opportunity of the tau neutrino astronomy for the neutrino energy E ranging between 10 GeV and 10{sup 3} GeV. In this energy range, the intrinsic tau neutrino production is suppressed relative to the intrinsic muon neutrino production. Any sizable tau neutrino flux may thus arise because of the {nu}{sub {mu}}{yields}{nu}{sub {tau}} neutrino oscillations only. It is demonstrated that, in the presence of the neutrino oscillations, consideration of the neutrino flavor dependence in the background atmospheric neutrino flux leads to the drastically different prospects between the observation of the astrophysical muon neutrinos and that of the astrophysical tau neutrinos. Taking the galactic-plane neutrino flux as the targeted astrophysical source, we have found that the galactic-plane tau neutrino flux dominates over the atmospheric tau neutrino flux for E{>=}10 GeV. Hence, the galactic-plane can at least in principle be seen through the tau neutrinos with energies just greater than 10 GeV. In a sharp contrast, the galactic-plane muon neutrino flux is overwhelmed by its atmospheric background until E{>=}10{sup 6} GeV.

• OSTI ID: 20709238
• Journal Information: Physical Review. D, Particles Fields, Journal Name: Physical Review. D, Particles Fields Journal Issue: 10 Vol. 71; ISSN PRVDAQ; ISSN 0556-2821
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS
ASTRONOMY
FLAVOR MODEL
GEV RANGE
MUON NEUTRINOS
NEUTRINO OSCILLATION
TAU NEUTRINOS