Search for neutrinos from transient sources with the ANTARES telescope and optical follow-up observations

TL;DR

This paper presents a new method for detecting transient neutrino sources using the ANTARES telescope, combining optical follow-up observations to improve sensitivity and identify source nature.

Contribution

The paper introduces a rapid online reconstruction technique and a follow-up strategy with robotic telescopes to enhance transient neutrino source detection.

Findings

Triggered optical follow-ups one or two times per month since 2009.

Improved sensitivity to transient neutrino sources.

Potential to identify the nature of neutrino sources.

Abstract

The ANTARES telescope has the opportunity to detect transient neutrino sources, such as gamma-ray bursts, core-collapse supernovae, flares of active nuclei... To enhance the sensitivity to these sources, we have developed a new detection method based on the optical follow-up of "golden" neutrino events such as neutrino doublets coincident in time and space or single neutrinos of very high energy. The ANTARES Collaboration has therefore implemented a very fast on-line reconstruction with a good angular resolution. These characteristics allow to trigger an optical telescope network; since February 2009. ANTARES is sending alert trigger one or two times per month to the two 25 cm robotic telescope of TAROT. This follow-up of such special events would not only give access to the nature of the sources but also improves the sensitivity for transient neutrino sources.