Simulation of Cosmogenic Neutrino Spectra with the GZKFast Event Generator

TL;DR

GZKFast is a cost-effective, user-friendly simulation tool that models ultra high energy cosmic ray interactions with the CMB to predict cosmogenic neutrino spectra, aligning well with more complex models.

Contribution

This paper introduces GZKFast, a simplified yet effective Monte Carlo event generator for simulating cosmogenic neutrino production from UHE cosmic rays.

Findings

GZKFast produces event distributions comparable to detailed simulations.

It efficiently models photohadron processes relevant to cosmogenic neutrinos.

The tool is accessible for broader astrophysical research.

Abstract

GZKFast is a low-cost astrophysical event generator designed to simulate photohadron processes resulting from ultra high energy cosmic ray fluxes. GZKFast is an easy to use event generator which specifically addresses issues relevant to cosmogenic neutrinos and the ultra high energy (UHE) neutrino spectrum. GZKFast injects UHE particles into a simulated cosmic microwave background (CMB) using a Monte Carlo approach. The interaction of each particle is simulated and the resulting detectable events are spooled to log files. Although GZKFast uses a simplified particle physics model and limited accelerator data it generates event distributions which are comparable with more thorough simulations such as the event generator SOPHIA