Ultra high energy neutrinos from hidden-sector topological defects

TL;DR

This paper explores how hidden-sector topological defects could produce ultra-high energy neutrinos that oscillate into detectable ordinary neutrinos, potentially leading to fluxes much higher than from known sources.

Contribution

It introduces a model where hidden-sector topological defects generate sterile superheavy particles that decay into mirror neutrinos, which oscillate into ordinary neutrinos, enhancing detectable fluxes.

Findings

Maximal mixing of mirror and ordinary neutrinos is possible.

Oscillations can occur on a timescale comparable to the age of the Universe.

Estimated fluxes could be up to 1000 times higher than from ordinary matter.

Abstract

We study Topological Defects (TD) in hidden (mirror) matter as possible sources of ultra-high energy neutrinos. The hidden/mirror and ordinary matter are assumed to interact very weakly through gravity or superheavy particles. An inflationary scenario is outlined in which superheavy defects are formed in hidden/mirror matter (and not in ordinary matter), and at the same time the density of mirror matter produced at the end of inflation is much smaller than that of ordinary matter. Superheavy particles produced by hidden-sector TD and the products of their decays are all sterile in our world. Only mirror neutrinos oscillate into ordinary neutrinos. We show that oscillations with maximal mixing of neutrinos from both worlds are possible and that values of $\Delta m^2$, needed for for solution of solar-neutrino and atmospheric-neutrino problems, allow the oscillation of ultra-high energy neutrinos on a timescale of the age of the Universe. A model of mass-degenerate visible and mirror neutrinos with maximal mixing is constructed. Constraints on UHE neutrino fluxes are obtained. The estimated fluxes can be 3 orders of magnitude higher than those from ordinary matter. Detection of these fluxes is briefly discussed.