Search for Gamma-Ray and Neutrino Coincidences Using HAWC and ANTARES Data

TL;DR

This study combines data from HAWC and ANTARES to search for coincident high-energy neutrino and gamma-ray events, finding three coincidences consistent with background expectations over 4.39 years.

Contribution

It introduces a new multimessenger search method combining HAWC and ANTARES data, extending previous approaches to include these detectors for neutrino-gamma coincidences.

Findings

Three coincident events detected, consistent with background expectations.

Data collected over 4.39 years with no significant excess.

Method demonstrates feasibility of multimessenger coincidence searches.

Abstract

In the quest for high-energy neutrino sources, the Astrophysical Multimessenger Observatory Network (AMON) has implemented a new search by combining data from the High Altitude Water Cherenkov (HAWC) observatory and the Astronomy with a Neutrino Telescope and Abyss environmental RESearch (ANTARES) neutrino telescope. Using the same analysis strategy as in a previous detector combination of HAWC and IceCube data, we perform a search for coincidences in HAWC and ANTARES events that are below the threshold for sending public alerts in each individual detector. Data were collected between July 2015 and February 2020 with a livetime of 4.39 years. Over this time period, 3 coincident events with an estimated false-alarm rate of $< 1$ coincidence per year were found. This number is consistent with background expectations.