Searching for long-wavelength neutrino oscillations in the distorted neutrino spectrum of galactic supernova remnants

Roland M. Crocker, Fulvio Melia, Raymond R. Volkas

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

34 Scopus citations

Abstract

We investigate the muon neutrino event rate in km3 neutrino telescopes due to a number of galactic supernova remnants (SNRs) expected on the basis of these objects' known γ-ray signals. We evaluate the potential of such instruments to detect breaks in the expected power-law behavior of these SNRs' neutrino signals. Such breaks are, in particular, induced by the long-wavelength neutrino oscillations predicted by various neutrino mixing schemes including pseudo-Dirac scenarios and the exact parity model. With 10 years' data, neutrino signals from Sgr A East, alone, should either exclude neutrino oscillations governed by a δm2 parameter close to 10-15 eV2 or, alternatively, discover such oscillations in the likely event that other explanations for any observed break can be excluded. If data from γ-ray observations are included in the analysis, then oscillations governed by a δm2 in the approximate range from 10-13 to 10-15 eV2 might be discovered or excluded. Terrestrial or solar system neutrino experiments do not have the capability to observe oscillations governed by such tiny δm2 values.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)147-155
Number of pages9
JournalAstrophysical Journal, Supplement Series
Volume141
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 2002

Keywords

  • Acceleration of particles
  • Cosmic rays
  • Elementary particles
  • Neutrinos
  • Radiation mechanisms: nonthermal
  • Supernova remnants

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Astronomy and Astrophysics
  • Space and Planetary Science

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