Analysis of a tau neutrino origin for the near-horizon air shower events observed by the fourth flight of the Antarctic Impulsive Transient Antenna

Journal Article · 07 February 2022 · Physical Review. D.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevd.105.042001 · OSTI ID:1856236

Prechelt, R. ; Wissel, S.  A.; Romero-Wolf, A.; Burch, C.; Gorham, P.  W.; Allison, P.; Alvarez-Muñiz, J.; Banerjee, O.; Batten, L.; Beatty, J.  J.; Belov, K.; Besson, D.  Z.; Binns, W.  R.; Bugaev, V.; Cao, P.; Carvalho, W.; Chen, C.  H.; Chen, P.; Chen, Y.; Clem, J.  M. ; Connolly, A.; Cremonesi, L.; Dailey, B.; Deaconu, C.; Dowkontt, P.  F.; Fox, B.  D.; Gordon, J.  W. H.; Hast, C.; Hill, B.; Hsu, S.  Y.; Huang, J.  J.; Hughes, K.; Hupe, R.; Israel, M.  H.; Liewer, K.  M.; Liu, T.  C.; Ludwig, A.  B.; Macchiarulo, L.; Matsuno, S.; McBride, K.; Miki, C.; Mulrey, K.; Nam, J.; Naudet, C.; Nichol, R.  J.; Novikov, A.; Oberla, E.; Prohira, S.; Rauch, B.  F.; Ripa, J.; Roberts, J.  M.; Rotter, B.; Russell, J.  W.; Saltzberg, D.; Seckel, D.; Schoorlemmer, H.; Shiao, J.; Stafford, S.; Stockham, J.; Stockham, M.; Strutt, B.; Sutherland, M.  S.; Varner, G.  S.; Vieregg, A.  G.; Wang, N.; Wang, S.  H.; Zas, E.; Zeolla, A.

In this work, we study in detail the sensitivity of the Antarctic Impulsive Transient Antenna (ANITA) to possible ν_τ point source fluxes detected via τ-lepton-induced air showers. This investigation is framed around the observation of four upward-going extensive air shower events very close to the horizon seen in ANITA-IV. We find that these four upgoing events are not observationally inconsistent with τ-induced EASs from Earth-skimming ν_τ both in their spectral properties as well as in their observed locations on the sky. These four events as well as the overall diffuse and point source exposure to Earth-skimming ν_τ are also compared against published ultrahigh-energy neutrino limits from the Pierre Auger Observatory. While none of these four events occurred at sky locations simultaneously visible by Auger, the implied fluence necessary for ANITA to observe these events is in strong tension with limits set by Auger across a wide range of energies and is additionally in tension with ANITA’s Askaryan in-ice neutrino channel above 10¹⁹ eV. We conclude by discussing some of the technical challenges with simulating and analyzing these near horizon events and the potential for future observatories to observe similar events.

• Research Organization: SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory (SLAC), Menlo Park, CA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES)
• Contributing Organization: ANITA Collaboration
• Grant/Contract Number: AC02-76SF00515
• OSTI ID: 1856236
• Journal Information: Physical Review. D., Journal Name: Physical Review. D. Journal Issue: 4 Vol. 105; ISSN 2470-0010
• Publisher: American Physical Society (APS)Copyright Statement
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English