Neutrino propagation through Earth: modeling uncertainties using nuPyProp

TL;DR

This paper uses the nuPyProp simulation to model neutrino propagation through Earth, quantifying uncertainties from various physical models affecting tau and muon neutrino detection for astrophysical observations.

Contribution

It introduces nuPyProp for detailed neutrino propagation modeling and systematically assesses uncertainties from Earth density, tau depolarization, and electromagnetic energy loss models.

Findings

Electromagnetic energy loss models cause 20-50% uncertainty in charged lepton exit probabilities.

nuPyProp results are compared with other simulation packages, highlighting differences.

Uncertainty quantification improves the reliability of neutrino detection predictions.

Abstract

Using the Earth as a neutrino converter, tau neutrino fluxes from astrophysical point sources can be detected by tau-lepton-induced extensive air showers (EASs). Both muon neutrino and tau neutrino induced upward-going EAS signals can be detected by terrestrial, sub-orbital and satellite-based instruments. The sensitivity of these neutrino telescopes can be evaluated with the nuSpaceSim package, which includes the nuPyProp simulation package. The nuPyProp package propagates neutrinos ($\nu_\mu$, $\nu_\tau$) through the Earth to produce the corresponding charged leptons (muons and tau-leptons). We use nuPyProp to quantify the uncertainties from Earth density models, tau depolarization effects and photo-nuclear electromagnetic energy loss models in the charged lepton exit probabilities and their spectra. The largest uncertainties come from electromagnetic energy loss modeling, with as much as a 20-50% difference between the models. We compare nuPyProp results with other simulation package results.