Neutrino telescopes as a probe of active and sterile neutrino mixings

Zhi-zhong Xing

doi:10.1016/j.nuclphysbps.2007.11.043

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arXiv · 0711.4163

Neutrino telescopes as a probe of active and sterile neutrino mixings

Zhi-zhong Xing

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Abstract

If the ultrahigh-energy (UHE) neutrino fluxes produced from a distant astrophysical source can be measured at a km^3-size neutrino telescope, they will provide a promising way to help determine the flavor mixing pattern of three active neutrinos. Considering the conventional UHE neutrino source with the flavor ratio ϕ_e : ϕ_μ: ϕ_τ= 1 : 2 : 0, I show that ϕ^D_e : ϕ^D_μ: ϕ^D_τ= (1 -2 Δ) : (1 +Δ) : (1 +Δ) holds at the detector of a neutrino telescope, where Δcharacterizes the effect of μ-τsymmetry breaking (i.e., θ_13 \neq 0 and θ_23 \neq π/4). Current experimental data yield -0.1 \leq Δ\leq +0.1. It is also possible to probe Δby detecting the \barν_e flux of E_\barν_e \approx 6.3 PeV via the Glashow resonance channel \barν_e e \to W^- \to anything. Finally, I give some brief comments on the possibility to constrain the mixing between active and sterile neutrinos by using the UHE neutrino telescopes.

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Zhi-zhong Xing. 2007-11-27. Neutrino telescopes as a probe of active and sterile neutrino mixings. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nuclphysbps.2007.11.043

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