TeV-PeV Neutrinos from Low-Power Gamma-Ray Burst Jets inside Stars

TL;DR

This paper investigates high-energy neutrino production in gamma-ray burst jets inside stars, highlighting conditions under which neutrinos are generated and how different GRB types contribute to the neutrino background.

Contribution

It provides new constraints on neutrino production in GRB jets considering radiation-mediated shocks and explores the potential of low-power GRBs to explain IceCube observations.

Findings

Classical GRBs likely do not produce detectable neutrinos inside stars.

Ultralong GRBs can produce detectable TeV neutrinos, indicating giant progenitors.

Low-luminosity GRBs may contribute to the astrophysical neutrino background with a spectral cutoff around PeV.

Abstract

We study high-energy neutrino production in collimated jets inside progenitors of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) and supernovae, considering both collimation and internal shocks. We obtain simple, useful constraints, using the often overlooked point that shock acceleration of particles is ineffective at radiation-mediated shocks. Classical GRBs may be too powerful to produce high-energy neutrinos inside stars, which is consistent with IceCube nondetections. We find that ultralong GRBs avoid such constraints and detecting the TeV signal will support giant progenitors. Predictions for low-power GRB classes including low-luminosity GRBs can be consistent with the astrophysical neutrino background IceCube may detect, with a spectral steepening around PeV. The models can be tested with future GRB monitors.