Search Capability for $\eta \to {\nu }_{e,\tau }{\bar{\nu }}_{e,\tau }$ Decays in Cubic Kilometer Neutrino Detectors

Abstract

We investigate the discovery potential of cubic kilometer neutrino observatories such as IceCube to set stringent limits on the forbidden decays $\eta \to {\nu }_e{\bar{\nu }}_e$ and $\eta \to {\nu }_{\tau }{\bar{\nu }}_{\tau }$. The signatures for these decays are cascade events resulting from the charged-current reactions of ${\nu }_e,{\nu }_{\tau }$, ${\bar{\nu }}_e$ and ${\bar{\nu }}_{\tau }$ on nuclei in such detectors. Background cascade events are mainly due to ${\nu }_e$'s from atmospheric $\mu$, $K^{+}$, and $K_S^0$ decays and to a lesser extent from atmospheric ${\nu }_{\mu }$ neutral current interactions with nuclei. A direct upper limit for the branching ratio $\eta \to {\nu }_{e,\tau }{\bar{\nu }}_{e,\tau }$ of $4.5\times 10^{-4}$ at 90% CL can be achieved.

Typos were fixed.

References in corpus (7)

• Big-Bang nucleosynthesis (Particle Data Group mini-review)
• The Cosmological Parameters 2006
• Prompt neutrino fluxes from atmospheric charm
• Upper Limit on the Branching Ratio for the Decay ${\pi }^0\to \nu \bar{\nu }$
• Search for Invisible Decays of $\eta$ and ${\eta }^{\prime }$ in $J/\psi \to \varphi \eta$ and $\varphi {\eta }^{\prime }$
• High energy neutrino cross sections
• Simulation of neutrino and charged particle production and propagation in the atmosphere

Cited by in corpus (1)

• Search for $\eta$ and ${\eta }^{\prime }$ Invisible Decays in $J/\psi \to \varphi \eta$ and $\varphi {\eta }^{\prime }$