Relic neutrino masses and the highest energy cosmic rays

Physics – High Energy Physics – High Energy Physics - Phenomenology

Scientific paper

Rate now

  [ 0.00 ] – not rated yet Voters 0   Comments 0

Details

19 pages, 22 figures, REVTeX 4

Scientific paper

10.1088/1126-6708/2002/06/046

We consider the possibility that a large fraction of the ultrahigh energy cosmic rays are decay products of Z bosons which were produced in the scattering of ultrahigh energy cosmic neutrinos on cosmological relic neutrinos. We compare the observed ultrahigh energy cosmic ray spectrum with the one predicted in the above Z-burst scenario and determine the required mass of the heaviest relic neutrino as well as the necessary ultrahigh energy cosmic neutrino flux via a maximum likelihood analysis. We show that the value of the neutrino mass obtained in this way is fairly robust against variations in presently unknown quantities, like the amount of neutrino clustering, the universal radio background, and the extragalactic magnetic field, within their anticipated uncertainties. Much stronger systematics arises from different possible assumptions about the diffuse background of ordinary cosmic rays from unresolved astrophysical sources. In the most plausible case that these ordinary cosmic rays are protons of extragalactic origin, one is lead to a required neutrino mass in the range 0.08 eV - 1.3 eV at the 68 % confidence level. This range narrows down considerably if a particular universal radio background is assumed, e.g. to 0.08 eV - 0.40 eV for a large one. The required flux of ultrahigh energy cosmic neutrinos near the resonant energy should be detected in the near future by AMANDA, RICE, and the Pierre Auger Observatory, otherwise the Z-burst scenario will be ruled out.

No associations

LandOfFree

Say what you really think

Search LandOfFree.com for scientists and scientific papers. Rate them and share your experience with other people.

Rating

Relic neutrino masses and the highest energy cosmic rays does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with Relic neutrino masses and the highest energy cosmic rays, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Relic neutrino masses and the highest energy cosmic rays will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

     

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-494953

  Search
All data on this website is collected from public sources. Our data reflects the most accurate information available at the time of publication.