High-energy Neutrino Interactions Research Articles

Search for dark matter in the Sun with the ANTARES neutrino telescope in the CMSSM and mUED frameworks

ANTARES is the first neutrino telescope in the sea. It consists of a three-dimensional array of 885 photomultipliers to collect the Cherenkov light induced by relativistic muons produced in CC interactions of high energy neutrinos. One of the main scientific goals of the experiment is the search for dark matter. We present here the analysis of data taken during 2007 and 2008 to look for a WIMP signal in the Sun. WIMPs are one of the most popular scenarios to explain the dark matter content of the Universe. They would accumulate in massive objects like the Sun or the Galactic Center and their self-annihilation would produce (directly or indirectly) high energy neutrinos detectable by neutrino telescopes. Contrary to other indirect searches (like with gamma rays or positrons), the search for neutrinos in the Sun is free from other astrophysical contributions, so the interpretation of a potential signal in terms of dark matter is much more robust.

Calibration systems of the ANTARES neutrino telescope

The ANTARES detector (Ageron et al., 2011 [1]) is the largest deep sea underwater neutrino telescope in operation. The apparatus comprises a matrix of 885 photomultiplier tubes (PMTs) which detect the Cherenkov light emitted by the charged leptons produced in the charged current interactions of high energy neutrinos with the matter inside or near the detector. Reconstruction of the muon track and energy can be achieved using the time, position and charge information of the hits arriving to the PMTs. A good calibration of the detector is necessary in order to ensure its optimal performance. This contribution reviews the different calibration systems and methods developed by the ANTARES Collaboration.

SEARCH FOR NEUTRINO EMISSION FROM GAMMA-RAY SOURCES WITH THE ANTARES TELESCOPE

ANTARES is the first undersea neutrino detector ever built and presently the neutrino telescope with the largest effective area operating in the Northern Hemisphere. A three-dimensional array of photomultiplier tubes detects the Cherenkov light induced by the muons produced in the interaction of high energy neutrinos with the matter surrounding the detector. The detection of astronomical neutrino sources is one of the main goals of ANTARES. The search for point-like neutrino sources with the ANTARES telescope is described and the preliminary results obtained with data collected from 2007 to 2010 are shown. No cosmic neutrino source has been observed and neutrino flux upper limits have been calculated for the most promising source candidates.

Measurement ofK+production cross section by 8 GeV protons using high-energy neutrino interactions in the SciBooNE detector

The SciBooNE Collaboration reports K+ production cross section and rate measurements using high-energy daughter muon neutrino scattering data off the SciBar polystyrene (C8H8) target in the SciBooNE detector. The K+ mesons are produced by 8 GeV protons striking a beryllium target in Fermilab Booster Neutrino Beam line (BNB). Using observed neutrino and antineutrino events in SciBooNE, we measure d2σdpdΩ=(5.34±0.76) mb/(GeV/c×sr) for p+Be→K++X at mean K+ energy of 3.9 GeV and angle (with respect to the proton beam direction) of 3.7 degrees, corresponding to the selected K+ sample. Compared to Monte Carlo predictions using previous higher energy K+ production measurements, this measurement, which uses the NUANCE neutrino interaction generator, is consistent with a normalization factor of 0.85±0.12. This agreement is evidence that the extrapolation of the higher energy K+ measurements to an 8 GeV beam energy using Feynman scaling is valid. This measurement reduces the error on the K+ production cross section from 40% to 14%.12 MoreReceived 14 May 2011DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.84.012009© 2011 American Physical Society

Calibration and characterization of the IceCube photomultiplier tube

Over 5000 PMTs are being deployed at the South Pole to compose the IceCube neutrino observatory. Many are placed deep in the ice to detect Cherenkov light emitted by the products of high-energy neutrino interactions, and others are frozen into tanks on the surface to detect particles from atmospheric cosmic ray showers. IceCube is using the 10-in. diameter R7081-02 made by Hamamatsu Photonics. This paper describes the laboratory characterization and calibration of these PMTs before deployment. PMTs were illuminated with pulses ranging from single photons to saturation level. Parameterizations are given for the single photoelectron charge spectrum and the saturation behavior. Time resolution, late pulses and afterpulses are characterized. Because the PMTs are relatively large, the cathode sensitivity uniformity was measured. The absolute photon detection efficiency was calibrated using Rayleigh-scattered photons from a nitrogen laser. Measured characteristics are discussed in the context of their relevance to IceCube event reconstruction and simulation efforts.

Radio detection of ultra high energy neutrinos

Recent evidence for observation of the Greisen–Zatsepin–Kuzmin (GZK) cutoff in the cosmic ray spectrum has a number of profound implications for our understanding of high energy astroparticle physics. This GZK process itself produces neutrinos that are strongly believed to be both spectrally and spatially correlated to high energy cosmic ray particles above 100EeV. In the 1960's Askaryan predicted that spatially compact nature of electromagnetic showers produced from the interaction of such high energy neutrinos would lead to coherent Cherenkov radiation. In June 2006 these Askaryan effect predictions were verified for emulated EeV showers in a 7ton ice target at SLAC. A number of current and future experiments are now actively exploiting this radio detection method to search for the “guaranteed” GZK flux of high energy neutrinos. None have yet been observed, though the sensitivity of the detectors is just now approaching the predicted range. The ANtarctic Impulsive Transient Antenna (ANITA) experiment, a long-duration balloon operating at an altitude of 37km, flew for over a month during December 2006–January 2007, and again December 2008–January 2009. In the longer term, a large-scale terrestrial radio array opens the possibility to probe deep inelastic neutrino-nucleon scattering at center of mass energies well above those of any proposed future collider. Prototype instrumentation stations have been evaluated. Essential to the realization of these experiments has been the development of affordable instrumentation with adequate radio frequency performance.

Thinned simulations of extremely energetic showers in dense media for radio applications

This paper presents our results for full 3-D simulations of very-high to ultra-high energy electromagnetic cascades – and the associated coherent Cherenkov radiation – as might be produced by high-energy neutrino interactions in dense media. Using “thinning” techniques, we develop an algorithm based on the existing “ZHS” code, and demonstrate that the new “ZHS-thinned” code can produce fast and accurate results for showers up to 10 20 eV . Using ZHS-thinned, we develop new parameterisations for the radiation from showers in ice, salt, and the lunar regolith, with a separate treatment of the megaregolith (deep regolith). Our parameterisations include for the first time a method to simulate fluctuations in shower length induced by the LPM effect. Our results, which avoid the pit-falls of scaling simulations from lower energies, allow improved calculations of the detection probability for experiments searching for high-energy neutrinos using the radio technique.

Leptoquarks signals in KM3neutrino telescopes

Leptoquarks are predicted in several extensions of the Standard Model (SM) of particle physics attempting the unification of the quark and lepton sectors. Such particles could be produced in the interaction of high energy neutrinos with matter of the Earth. We investigate the effects of this particles on the neutrino flux to be detected in a kilometer cubic neutrino telescope such as IceCube. We calculate the contribution of leptoquarks to the neutrino-nucleon interaction and, then, to the angular observable α(E) recently proposed in order to evaluate detectable effects in IceCube. Our results are presented as an exclusion plot in the relevant parameters of the leptoquarks physics.

Use of parametric acoustic sources to generate neutrino-like signals

It is not easy to design a calibrator system able to reproduce the time and directivity patterns of the acoustic pulse produced in an ultra high energy neutrino interaction. Linear arrays of acoustic transducers with coherent emission have been proposed, but it might result in a long array with many elements, increasing the cost and making the deployment and operation much more complex. In this paper, we evaluate the possibility of using an alternative approach using parametric acoustic sources to generate neutrino-like signals. This non-linear acoustic effect can also be applied to transient signals allowing to generate them by a “special modulation” at a larger frequency. The technique has the advantage of being much more directive since the directivity of the parametric source is similar to that of the large frequency used, and therefore it will result in a much more compact design with fewer sources. Here, we present the studies performed with planar transducers in a tank to evaluate the possibilities of the technique, which seems very promising according to our results.

Interaction of Dirac and Majorana neutrinos with weak gravitational fields

In this paper the interaction of high energy neutrinos with weak gravitational fields is briefly explored. The form of the graviton-neutrino vertex is motivated from Lorentz and gauge invariance and the nonrelativistic interpretations of the neutrino-gravitational form factors are obtained. We comment on the renormalization conditions, the preservation of the weak equivalence principle and the definition of the neutrino mass radius. We associate the neutrino-gravitational form factors with specific angular momentum states. Based on Feynman diagrams, spin-statistics, $CP$ invariance and symmetries of the angular momentum states in the graviton-neutrino vertex, we deduce differences between the Majorana and Dirac cases. It is then proved that in spite of the theoretical differences between the two cases, as far as experiments are considered, they would be virtually indistinguishable for any space-time geometry satisfying the weak-field condition. We then calculate the transition gravitational form factors for the neutrino by evaluating the relevant Feynman diagrams at 1-loop and estimate a neutrino transition mass radius. The form factor is seen to depend on the momentum transfer very weakly. It is also seen that the neutrino transition mass radius is smaller than the typical neutrino charge radius by a couple of orders of magnitude.

Charm production in neutral current neutrino-nucleus scattering within the color dipole approach

The rate for inclusive charm production in neutral current neutrino-nucleus interactions is calculated. The interaction of high energy neutrinos on hadron targets is an outstanding probe to test Quantum Chromodynamics (QCD) and shed light in the understanding of the parton properties of hadron structure. We have considered the QCD color dipole picture for such an interaction and have in addition used parton saturation models. In particular, the dipole cross section is taken from recent phenomenology on deep inelastic scattering (DIS) at DESY-HERA. The theoretical predictions are compared to available theoretical predictions and experimental results from NuTeV detector at Fermilab. Moreover, we compute the relative rate of the associated cross section in deep inelastic neutrino-nucleus interactions, σ(ccv)σNCtot, from CHORUS Collaboration. As a byproduct, a QCD analysis of the F2, FL and F3 structure functions for the neutral current case also is presented.

Direct detection of Kaluza-Klein particles in neutrino telescopes

In theories with universal extra dimensions, all standard model fields propagate in the bulk and the lightest state of the first Kaluza-Klein (KK) level can be made stable by imposing a ${Z}_{2}$ parity. We consider a framework where the lightest KK particle (LKP) is a neutral, extremely weakly interacting particle such as the first KK excitation of the graviton, while the next-to-lightest KK particle (NLKP) is the first KK mode of a charged right-handed lepton. In such a scenario, due to its very small couplings to the LKP, the NLKP is long-lived. We investigate the production of these particles from the interaction of high energy neutrinos with nucleons in the Earth and determine the rate of NLKP events in neutrino telescopes. Using the Waxman-Bahcall limit for the neutrino flux, we find that the rate can be as large as a few hundreds of events a year for realistic values of the NLKP mass.

Neutrino Tomography – Learning About The Earth’s Interior Using The Propagation Of Neutrinos

Because the propagation of neutrinos is affected by the presence of Earth matter, it opens new possibilities to probe the Earth’s interior. Different approaches range from techniques based upon the interaction of high energy (above TeV) neutrinos with Earth matter, to methods using the MSW effect on the oscillations of low energy (MeV to GeV) neutrinos. In principle, neutrinos from many different sources (sun, atmosphere, supernovae, beams etc.) can be used. In this talk, we summarize and compare different approaches with an emphasis on more recent developments. In addition, we point out other geophysical aspects relevant for neutrino oscillations.

EXPERIENCE ON ACOUSTIC WAVE PROPAGATION IN ROCK SALT IN THE FREQUENCY RANGE 1-100 kHz AND CONCLUSIONS WITH RESPECT TO THE FEASIBILITY OF A ROCK SALT DOME AS NEUTRINO DETECTOR

Rock salt is a promising material for the detection of acoustic waves generated by interactions of high energy neutrinos. The economical feasibility of an acoustic neutrino detector strongly depends on the spacing between the acoustic sensors. In this paper we report on our experience on acoustic wave propagation and wave attenuation in rock salt in the frequency range of 1 to 100 kHz and some conclusions with respect to the usefulness of rock salt as a neutrino detector. The experience bases on long-term acoustic emission measurements in a salt mine.

NEUTRINO FLAVOR IDENTIFICATION IN SALSA

The proposed Saltdome Shower Array (SalSA) experiment will detect coherent Cherenkov radio signals from high-energy neutrino interactions in a naturally occurring salt dome. By identifying the number and the angular profile of radio emissions in any given event, distinction can be made between charged-current (CC) and neutral-current (NC) neutrino interactions. Additionally, the flavor of the neutrino can be identified in the case of charged-current interactions. Preliminary results for nominal GZK neutrino flux indicate that ~25% of all events can be correctly identified as coming from charged-current interactions of νμ's or ντ's. These charged-current initiated events can further be separated by the flavor of the original neutrino, either νμ's or ντ's.

Charm physics with neutrinos

High energy neutrino interactions induce charmed hadron production at the level of a few percent and therefore they constitute a powerful tool to study charm physics. Recently the CHORUS experiment has published new results on charm physics with the muon neutrino beam at CERN, profiting of the possibility to identify the charm production and decay vertexes with nuclear emulsions. These results are reviewed and included in the general picture of charm physics with neutrinos.

NLO corrections to ultra-high energy neutrino-nucleon scattering, saturation and smallx

We reconsider the Standard Model interactions of ultra-high energy neutrinos with matter. The next to leading order QCD corrections are presented for charged-current and neutral-current processes. Contrary to popular expectations, these corrections are found to be quite substantial, especially for very large (anti-) neutrino energies. Hence, they need to be taken into account in any search for new physics effects in high-energy neutrino interactions. In our extrapolation of the parton densities to kinematical regions as yet unexplored directly in terrestrial accelerators, we are guided by double asymptotic scaling in the large Q^2 and small Bjorken x region and to models of saturation in the low Q^2 and low x regime. The sizes of the consequent uncertainties are commented upon. We also briefly discuss some variables which are insensitive to higher order QCD corrections and are hence suitable in any search for new physics.

Neutrino sparking and theneutron→strangestars conversion

We address the production of strangelets inside neutron stars by means of high-energy neutrino interactions (sparking). Requiring that neutron stars remain as such along their lifetimes, we obtain a bound on the probability of a strangelet in the final state and compare it with existing laboratory limits. It turns out that this mechanism is not likely to drive a $\mathrm{neutro}\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{n}\mathrm{strange}$ stars conversion for realistic values of the minimum center-mass-energy necessary to produce the quark-gluon plasma, a necessary precondition for the formation of the strangelet.

Neutral secondary vertices associated to high energy neutrino interactions

Preliminary results of a study of neutral secondary vertices associated to high energy neutrino interactions in the Fermilab 15 foot bubble chamber indicate no differences in K 0 production in charged-current and neutral-current interactions. The overall rates for energetic secondary vertices produced by interactions of neutral particles are also comparable in CC and NC events. The rate for 2-prong secondary vertices which are inconsistent with being strange particle decays is marginally higher in NC events than in CC events; additional kinematic cuts are required to determine if the possible difference in these rates is related to the effect reported by the CCFRW collaboration.

Nucleon structure functions from high energy neutrino interactions

Structure functions obtained from high energy neutrino and antineutrino scattering from an iron target are presented. These were extracted from the combined data of Fermilab experiments E616 and E701; these utilized narrow band beam runs between 1979–1982. The structure functions are used to test the validity of quarkparton model (QPM) predictions and to extract the QCD scale parameter Λ from fits to the Altarelli-Parisi equations.