Upper limit on the diffuse flux of ultrahigh energy tau neutrinos from the Pierre Auger Observatory.

Upper limit on the diffuse flux of ultrahigh energy tau neutrinos from the Pierre Auger Observatory.

The surface detector array of the Pierre Auger Observatory is sensitive to Earth-skimming tau neutrinos that interact in Earth's crust. Tau leptons from nu(tau) charged-current interactions can emerge and decay in the atmosphere to produce a nearly horizontal shower with a significant electroma...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Abraham, J, Abreu, P, Aglietta, M, Aguirre, C, Allard, D, Allekotte, I, Allen, J, Allison, P, Alvarez-Muñiz, J, Ambrosio, M, Anchordoqui, L, Andringa, S, Anzalone, A, Aramo, C, Argirò, S, Arisaka, K, Armengaud, E, Arneodo, F, Arqueros, F, Asch, T, Asorey, H, Assis, P, Atulugama, B, Aublin, J, Ave, M
Format: Journal article
Language:English
Published: 2008
Description
Summary:The surface detector array of the Pierre Auger Observatory is sensitive to Earth-skimming tau neutrinos that interact in Earth's crust. Tau leptons from nu(tau) charged-current interactions can emerge and decay in the atmosphere to produce a nearly horizontal shower with a significant electromagnetic component. The data collected between 1 January 2004 and 31 August 2007 are used to place an upper limit on the diffuse flux of nu(tau) at EeV energies. Assuming an E(nu)(-2) differential energy spectrum the limit set at 90% C.L. is E(nu)(2)dN(nu)(tau)/dE(nu)<1.3 x 10(-7) GeV cm(-2) s(-1) sr(-1) in the energy range 2 x 10(17) eV< E(nu)< 2 x 10(19) eV.

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