Cherenkov Tau Shower Earth-Skimming Method for PeV-EeV Tau Neutrino Observation with Ashra

Abstract

We describe a method of observation for PeV--EeV tau neutrinos using Cherenkov light from the air showers of decayed taus produced by tau neutrino interactions in the Earth. Aiming for the realization of neutrino astronomy utilizing the Earth-skimming tau neutrino detection technique, highly precise determination of arrival direction is key due to the following issues: (1) Clear identification of neutrinos by identifying those vertices originating within the Earth's surface; (2) Identification of very high energy neutrino sources. The Ashra detector uses newly developed light collectors which realize both a 42 degree-diameter field-of-view and arcminute resolution. Therefore, it has superior angular resolution for imaging Cherenkov air showers. In this paper, we estimate the sensitivity of and cosmic-ray background resulting from application of the Ashra-1 Cherenkov tau shower observation method. Both data from a commissioning run and a long-term observation (with fully equipped trigger system and one light collector) are presented. Our estimates are based on a detailed Monte Carlo simulation which describes all relevant shower processes from neutrino interaction to Cherenkov photon detection produced by tau air showers. In addition, the potential to determine the arrival direction of Cherenkov showers is evaluated by using the maximum likelihood method. We conclude that the Ashra-1 detector is a unique probe into detection of very high energy neutrinos and their accelerators.

15 pages, 7 figures, accepted for publication in Astroparticle Physics

References in corpus (6)

• Prompt neutrino fluxes from atmospheric charm
• Limit on the diffuse flux of ultra-high energy tau neutrinos with the surface detector of the Pierre Auger Observatory
• Charged Current Neutrino Cross Section and Tau Energy Loss at Ultra-High Energies
• Ultra-high energy neutrino scattering
• Observational Search for PeV-EeV Tau Neutrino from GRB081203A
• Performance of a 20-in. photoelectric lens image intensifier tube

Cited by in corpus (18)

• A Comprehensive Approach to Tau-Lepton Production by High-Energy Tau Neutrinos Propagating Through Earth
• POEMMA's Target of Opportunity Sensitivity to Cosmic Neutrino Transient Sources
• Sensitivity of a proposed space-based Cerenkov astrophysical-neutrino telescope (CHANT)
• Studies of an air-shower imaging system for the detection of ultrahigh-energy neutrinos
• Modeling of the Tau and Muon Neutrino-induced Optical Cherenkov Signals from Upward-moving Extensive Air Showers
• Cosmic tau neutrino detection via Cherenkov signals from air showers from Earth-emerging taus
• Tau energy loss and ultrahigh energy skimming tau neutrinos
• Hunting the Glashow Resonance with PeV Neutrino Telescopes
• Detection of tau neutrinos by Imaging Air Cherenkov Telescopes
• Anomalous ANITA air shower events and tau decays
• Searching for tau neutrinos with Cherenkov telescopes
• Sensitivity of top-of-the-mountain fluorescence telescope system for astrophysical neutrino flux above 10 PeV
• Characterization of the background for a neutrino search with the HAWC observatory
• Rare Events searches with Cherenkov Telescopes
• Fundamental Physics With Cosmic High-Energy Gamma Rays
• Dark Matter and Fundamental Physics Searches with IACTs
• Sensitivity for tau neutrinos at PeV energies and beyond with the MAGIC telescopes
• Study of a large array to detect ultra high energy tau-neutrino