Fodor Z, Katz SD, Ringwald A. Determination of absolute neutrino masses from bursts of Z bosons in cosmic rays.
PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2002;
88:171101. [PMID:
12005742 DOI:
10.1103/physrevlett.88.171101]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2001] [Revised: 11/02/2001] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Ultrahigh energy neutrinos (UHEnu) scatter on relic neutrinos (Rnu) producing Z bosons, which can decay hadronically producing protons (Z burst). We compare the predicted proton spectrum with the observed ultrahigh energy cosmic ray (UHECR) spectrum and determine the mass of the heaviest Rnu via a maximum likelihood analysis. Our prediction depends on the origin of the powerlike part of the UHECR spectrum: m(nu) = 2.75(+1.28)(-0.97) eV for Galactic halo and 0.26(+0.20)(-0.14) eV for extragalactic origin. The necessary UHEnu flux should be detected in the near future.
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