Double-Cascade Events from New Physics in Icecube [Double Bangs from New Physics in IceCube]
A variety of new physics models allows for neutrinos to up-scatter into heavier states. If the incident neutrino is energetic enough, the heavy neutrino may travel some distance before decaying. In this work, we consider the atmospheric neutrino flux as a source of such events. At IceCube, this would lead to a “double-bang” (DB) event topology, similar to what is predicted to occur for tau neutrinos at ultrahigh energies. The DB event topology has an extremely low background rate from coincident atmospheric cascades, making this a distinctive signature of new physics. Finally, our results indicate that IceCube should already be able to derive new competitive constraints on models with GeV-scale sterile neutrinos using existing data.
- Authors:
-
[1]
; [1]
; [2]
; [3]
- Fermi National Accelerator Lab. (FNAL), Batavia, IL (United States)
- Univ. Autonoma de Madrid, Madrid (Spain)
- Univ. of South Dakota, Vermillion, SD (United States)
- Publication Date:
- Report Number(s):
- FERMILAB-PUB-17-287-T; arXiv:1707.08573
Journal ID: ISSN 0031-9007; PRLTAO; 1613329
- Grant/Contract Number:
- AC02-07CH11359; SEV-2012-0249; SEV-2016-0597
- Type:
- Accepted Manuscript
- Journal Name:
- Physical Review Letters
- Additional Journal Information:
- Journal Volume: 119; Journal Issue: 20; Journal ID: ISSN 0031-9007
- Publisher:
- American Physical Society (APS)
- Research Org:
- Fermi National Accelerator Lab. (FNAL), Batavia, IL (United States)
- Sponsoring Org:
- USDOE Office of Science (SC), High Energy Physics (HEP) (SC-25)
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS
- OSTI Identifier:
- 1456244
- Alternate Identifier(s):
- OSTI ID: 1409132