On the potential cosmogenic origin of the ultra-high-energy event KM3-230213A

TL;DR

This paper discusses the detection of the most energetic neutrino ever observed, explores its potential cosmogenic origin, and proposes extending the cosmogenic neutrino flux model to higher redshifts to reconcile observations with predictions.

Contribution

It introduces a model extending the cosmogenic neutrino flux to higher redshifts and considers a subdominant proton fraction in cosmic rays, challenging existing assumptions.

Findings

Detection of a 120 PeV muon neutrino event by KM3NeT/ARCA.

Reconciliation of observed neutrino flux with cosmogenic models by extending to redshift z≈6.

Constraints on cosmic ray sources based on the extended flux model.

Abstract

On the 13th February 2023 the KM3NeT/ARCA telescope observed a track-like event compatible with a ultra-high-energy muon with an estimated energy of 120 PeV, produced by a neutrino with an even higher energy, making it the most energetic neutrino event ever detected. A diffuse cosmogenic component is expected to originate from the interactions of ultra-high-energy cosmic rays with ambient photon and matter fields. The flux level required by the KM3NeT/ARCA event is however in tension with the standard cosmogenic neutrino predictions based on the observations collected by the Pierre Auger Observatory and Telescope Array over the last decade of the ultra-high-energy cosmic rays above the ankle (hence from the local Universe, $z\lesssim 1$). We show here that both observations can be reconciled by extending the integration of the equivalent cosmogenic neutrino flux up to a redshift of $z\simeq 6$ and assuming a subdominant fraction of protons in the ultra-high-energy cosmic-ray flux, thus placing constraints on known cosmic accelerators.