Detecting the brightest HAWC sources with IceCube in the upcoming years

TL;DR

This paper predicts neutrino detection prospects for the brightest HAWC gamma-ray sources using IceCube, estimating detection significance over the next 10-20 years and highlighting the potential for discovery.

Contribution

It provides the first detailed neutrino flux predictions and significance estimates for specific HAWC sources with IceCube, considering extended observation periods.

Findings

3σ detection possible for eHWC J1907+063 and eHWC J2019+368 within a decade

Detection of 2HWC J1857+027 depends on flux, source extension, and cutoff energy

Current IceCube results are consistent with these predictions

Abstract

Among the gamma-ray sources detected by the HAWC observatory, we consider in details in this work the gamma-ray sources eHWC J1907+063 and eHWC J2019+368. These two sources belong to the three most luminous sources detected by HAWC, with emission above 100 TeV. In addition to those, we have considered also a source for which IceCube currently report an excess in neutrinos, the 2HWC J1857+027 source. For these sources, we show the prediction for neutrinos at the IceCube detector. Moreover, we present the calculation of the statistical significance, considering 10 and 20 years of running time, and we comment on the current results reported by the collaboration. We found that a detection at 3$\sigma$ or more should be within reach of the next decade for the sources eHWC J1907+063 and eHWC J2019+368. Instead, the detection at about 3$\sigma$ of the 2HWC J1857+027 source will depend on the specific value of the flux, on the extension of the source and on the cut-off energy.