Measurement of the atmospheric $\nu_\mu$ energy spectrum from 100 GeV to 200 TeV with the ANTARES telescope

TL;DR

This paper presents a measurement of the atmospheric muon neutrino energy spectrum from 0.1 to 200 TeV using ANTARES data, revealing a flux ~25% higher than conventional predictions and consistent with ice measurements.

Contribution

First measurement of the atmospheric u_ spectrum in the 0.1-200 TeV range using ANTARES data, with results indicating a higher flux than traditional models.

Findings

Measured flux ~25% higher than predicted by conventional models

Flux follows a power-law with spectral index 3.58±0.12

Results compatible with ice measurements, prompt neutrino contribution indeterminate

Abstract

Atmospheric neutrinos are produced during cascades initiated by the interaction of primary cosmic rays with air nuclei. In this paper, a measurement of the atmospheric \nu_\mu + \bar{\nu}_\mu energy spectrum in the energy range 0.1 - 200 TeV is presented, using data collected by the ANTARES underwater neutrino telescope from 2008 to 2011. Overall, the measured flux is ~25% higher than predicted by the conventional neutrino flux, and compatible with the measurements reported in ice. The flux is compatible with a single power-law dependence with spectral index \gamma_{meas}=3.58\pm 0.12. With the present statistics the contribution of prompt neutrinos cannot be established.