Published May 15, 2005 | Version v1
Journal article

Tau neutrino astronomy in GeV energies

  • 1. Institute of Physics, National Chiao-Tung University, Hsinchu 300, Taiwan (China)
  • 2. Physics Division, National Center for Theoretical Sciences, Hsinchu 300, Taiwan (China)

Description

We point out the opportunity of the tau neutrino astronomy for the neutrino energy E ranging between 10 GeV and 103 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 νμ→ντ 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≥106 GeV

Additional details

Publishing Information

Journal Title
Physical Review. D, Particles Fields
Journal Volume
71
Journal Issue
10
Journal Page Range
p. 103008-103008.6
ISSN
0556-2821
CODEN
PRVDAQ

INIS

Country of Publication
United States
Country of Input or Organization
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
INIS RN
37023597
Subject category
S72: PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS;
Descriptors DEI
ASTRONOMY; FLAVOR MODEL; GEV RANGE; MUON NEUTRINOS; NEUTRINO OSCILLATION; TAU NEUTRINOS
Descriptors DEC
COMPOSITE MODELS; ELEMENTARY PARTICLES; ENERGY RANGE; FERMIONS; HEAVY LEPTONS; LEPTONS; MASSLESS PARTICLES; MATHEMATICAL MODELS; NEUTRINOS; PARTICLE MODELS; QUARK MODEL

Optional Information

Notes
(c) 2005 The American Physical Society