Constraints on Neutrino-Nucleon Interactions at energies of 1 EeV with the IceCube Neutrino Observatory

TL;DR

This paper uses IceCube data to set upper limits on neutrino-nucleon cross sections at energies above 1 EeV, testing for new physics beyond the standard model.

Contribution

It provides the first constraints on neutrino-nucleon interactions at ultra-high energies considering astrophysical flux uncertainties.

Findings

Limits on neutrino-nucleon cross sections at >10^9 GeV

Implications for models with extra space-time dimensions

Constraints depend on assumed neutrino flux

Abstract

A search for extremely high energy cosmic neutrinos has been carried out with the IceCube Neutrino Observatory. The main signals in the search are neutrino-induced energetic charged leptons and their rate depends on the neutrino-nucleon cross section. The upper-limit on the neutrino flux has implications for possible new physics beyond the standard model such as the extra space-time dimension scenarios which lead to a cross section much higher than the standard particle physics prediction. In this study we constrain the neutrino-nucleon cross section at energies beyond $10^9$ GeV with the IceCube observation. The constraints are obtained as a function of the extraterrestrial neutrino flux in the relevant energy range, which accounts for the astrophysical uncertainty of neutrino production models.