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T: Fachverband Teilchenphysik
T 71: Neutrino Astronomy 3
T 71.2: Talk
Wednesday, March 23, 2022, 16:30–16:45, T-H30
Constraining BSM scenarios producing up-going τ induced air showers with the Pierre Auger Observatory* — •Ioana Alexandra Caracas for the Pierre Auger collaboration — Bergische University Wuppertal, Gaußstr. 20, Wuppertal, Germany
High energy steeply up-going air showers as observed by ANITA can’t be explained by Standard Model (SM) physics and require Beyond Standard Model (BSM) scenarios. τ-leptons decaying in the atmosphere represent the main primary candidates for such showers.
The Pierre Auger Observatory has set strict upper limits on the flux of up-going cosmic ray like air showers. The generic search is recast here in terms of BSM particles producing up-going τ-leptons. In any such BSM scenario a significantly reduced cross section of the hypothetical particle with matter is required, allowing them to propagate through the Earth with sufficiently low interaction probability. Interactions close to the surface could result in the creation of τ-leptons that escape into the atmosphere to induce up-going showers. The optimum BSM cross section for this to happen is found to be σBSM ≈ 10−2 σν.
Using both the Surface Detector and the Fluorescence Detector data, combined upper limits are set on particles creating up-going τ-leptons for different BSM scenarios.
*Gefördert durch die BMBF Verbundforschung Astroteilchenphysik (Vorhaben 05A20PX1)