Constraints on the Ultra-High Energy Neutrino Flux from Gamma-Ray Bursts from a Prototype Station of the Askaryan Radio Array

TL;DR

This study sets the first upper limits on ultra-high-energy neutrino flux from gamma-ray bursts above 10^7 GeV using data from the Askaryan Radio Array's prototype station, with no detected neutrino events.

Contribution

It provides the first constraints on prompt UHE neutrino flux from GRBs above 10^7 GeV using radio detection methods.

Findings

No neutrino events detected from 57 GRBs

Established upper limits on UHE neutrino fluence and flux

First limits on UHE GRB neutrino flux above 10^7 GeV

Abstract

We report on a search for ultra-high-energy (UHE) neutrinos from gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) in the data set collected by the Testbed station of the Askaryan Radio Array (ARA) in 2011 and 2012. From 57 selected GRBs, we observed no events that survive our cuts, which is consistent with 0.12 expected background events. Using NeuCosmA as a numerical GRB reference emission model, we estimate upper limits on the prompt UHE GRB neutrino fluence and quasi-diffuse flux from $10^{7}$ to $10^{10}$ GeV. This is the first limit on the prompt UHE GRB neutrino quasi-diffuse flux above $10^{7}$ GeV.