Search for GeV-PeV neutrinos from nova T Coronae Borealis with IceCube

TL;DR

This paper discusses a planned real-time search for neutrinos from the recurrent nova T Coronae Borealis using IceCube, leveraging its proximity and optical brightness to improve detection prospects over previous searches.

Contribution

It introduces a targeted follow-up strategy for T CrB with IceCube, aiming to detect neutrinos associated with its nova outburst, which is expected to produce a stronger signal than previous novae.

Findings

No neutrinos detected from previous novae

T CrB's closer distance increases detection likelihood

Enhanced sensitivity due to T CrB's position in the sky

Abstract

The widely anticipated outburst of recurrent nova T Coronae Borealis (T CrB), which is near the end of its 80-year cycle, provides an excellent opportunity to search for neutrinos from novae. Novae are an energetic class of transients, which have been studied for hundreds of years. Because many of them are located nearby, novae provide an excellent astrophysical laboratory to study shock-powered emission in our own backyard. Several recent novae have previously been detected in GeV gamma rays, and the 2021 outburst of RS Ophiuchi was detected up to TeV energies, with evidence for a hadronic origin of the observed emission. Previous searches for GeV-TeV neutrinos from novae, predicted to occur alongside their gamma-ray emission, have been performed using data from the IceCube Neutrino Observatory. However, no significant neutrino signals from novae have yet been observed. We present plans for follow-up of T CrB in real time with IceCube, using datasets spanning GeV to PeV neutrino energies. Due to its closer distance and higher optical flux, which has been well measured in two historical eruptions, the expected neutrino signal from T CrB is several times stronger than that from RS Ophiuchi. Furthermore, T CrB is located in the Northern sky at a declination where IceCube's sensitivity is an additional factor of a few better than at the location of RS Ophiuchi, which is beneficial to this search.