Multi-PeV Signals from a New Astrophysical Neutrino Flux Beyond the Glashow Resonance

TL;DR

This paper explores the possibility of a new astrophysical neutrino flux beyond the Glashow resonance, based on high-energy events observed by IceCube, suggesting neutrinos at energies around 100 PeV.

Contribution

It proposes a new flux of ultra-high-energy neutrinos inferred from recent IceCube events, challenging existing spectral models and implications for cosmic-ray origins.

Findings

Detection of a 2.6 PeV muon event suggests neutrinos >10 PeV.

Tau neutrino scenario indicates neutrinos around 100 PeV.

Existing spectral models cannot easily explain the observed high-energy events.

Abstract

The IceCube neutrino discovery was punctuated by three showers with $E_\nu$ ~ 1-2 PeV. Interest is intense in possible fluxes at higher energies, though a marked deficit of $E_\nu$ ~ 6 PeV Glashow resonance events implies a spectrum that is soft and/or cutoff below ~few PeV. However, IceCube recently reported a through-going track event depositing 2.6 $\pm$ 0.3 PeV. A muon depositing so much energy can imply $E_{\nu_\mu} \gtrsim$ 10 PeV. We show that extending the soft $E_\nu^{-2.6}$ spectral fit from TeV-PeV data is unlikely to yield such an event. Alternatively, a tau can deposit this much energy, though requiring $E_{\nu_\tau}$ ~10x higher. We find that either scenario hints at a new flux, with the hierarchy of $\nu_\mu$ and $\nu_\tau$ energies suggesting a window into astrophysical neutrinos at $E_\nu$ ~ 100 PeV if a tau. We address implications, including for ultrahigh-energy cosmic-ray and neutrino origins.