On the 'Loose' Constraint from IceCube Neutrino Non-Detection of GRB 230307A

TL;DR

This paper analyzes the constraints on neutrino production from the bright GRB 230307A using IceCube non-detection data, exploring different jet models and emission mechanisms in a neutron-rich environment.

Contribution

It provides the first constraints on nucleon loading and neutrino emission for GRB 230307A, considering various jet compositions and emission scenarios.

Findings

Neutrino non-detection constrains nucleon loading to a few in the post-merger environment.

Constraints on thermal neutrino emission are significant despite loose limits on non-thermal neutrinos.

No neutrinos detected from the brightest nearby GRBs, including GRB 230307A.

Abstract

The recent extremely bright gamma-ray burst (GRB), GRB 230307A from a binary neutron star merger may offer a good probe for the production of GRB-neutrinos. Within the constraint from IceCube neutrino non-detection, the limits for key physical parameters of this burst are extracted in different scenarios including the fireball, Poynting-flux-dominated (PFD) and hybrid jet. Different from the former nearby `monsters' and due to its smaller isotropic equivalent radiated energy ($E_{\gamma,\rm iso}\sim4\times10^{52}$ erg), the constraint seems loose if non-thermal neutrinos produced from photomeson interactions are the only consideration. However, a quasi-thermal neutrino emission from hadronuclear processes is constrained in this neutron-rich post-merger environment, and the upper limit of the allowed nucleon loading factor is about a few. Based on this, a discussion is presented on the possible prompt emission mechanism and jet composition for GRB 230307A in the context of multi-messenger astrophysics. It is worth noting that till now no GRB-neutrinos have been ever detected, even for the two brightest nearby GRBs ever observed (GRB 221009A and GRB 230307A) which have different dissipation mechanisms.