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arXiv · hep-ph/0605086

Probing low-x QCD with cosmic neutrinos at the Pierre Auger Observatory

Abstract

The sources of the observed ultra-high energy cosmic rays must also generate ultra-high energy neutrinos. Deep inelastic scattering of these neutrinos with nucleons on Earth probe center-of-mass energies $\sqrt{s} \sim 100$ TeV, well beyond those attainable at terrestrial colliders. By comparing the rates for two classes of observable events, any departure from the benchmark (unscreened perturbative QCD) neutrino-nucleon cross-section can be constrained. Using the projected sensitivity of the Pierre Auger Observatory to quasi-horizontal showers and Earth-skimming tau neutrinos, we show that a `Super-Auger' detector can thus provide an unique probe of strong interaction dynamics.

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Luis A. Anchordoqui, Amanda M. Cooper-Sarkar, Dan Hooper, Subir Sarkar. 2006-08-21. Probing low-x QCD with cosmic neutrinos at the Pierre Auger Observatory. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevd.74.043008

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