Tau Air Showers from Earth

Citations Over TimeTop 10% of 2004 papers

Abstract

We estimate the rate of observable Horizontal and Upward Tau Air-Showers (HORTAUs, UPTAUS) considering both the Earth opacity and the finite size of the terrestrial atmosphere. We calculate the effective target volumes and masses for Tau air-showers emerging from the Earth. The resulting model-independent masses for satellite experiments such as EUSO may encompass at Enutau = 1019 eV a very large volume, V= 1020 km3. Adopting simple power law neutrino fluxes, E-2 and E-1, calibrated to GZK-like and Z-Burst-like models, we estimate that at E= 1019 eV nearly half a dozen horizontal shower events should be detected by EUSO in three years of data collection by the "guaranteed" GZK neutrino flux. We also find that the equivalent mass for an Earth outer layer made of rock is dominant compared to the water, contrary to simplified all-rock/all-water Earth models and previous Montecarlo simulations. Therefore we expect an enhancement of neutrino detection along continental shelves nearby the highest mountain chains, also given the better geometrical acceptance for Earth skimming neutrinos. The Auger experiment might reveal such a signature at Enu= 1018 eV (with 26 events in 3 yr) towards the Andes, if the angular resolution at the horizon (both in azimuth and zenith) would reach an accuracy of nearly one degree needed to disentangle tau air showers from common UHECR. The number of events increases at lower energies; therefore we suggest an extension of the EUSO and Auger sensitivity down to (or even below) Enu = 1019 eV and Enu = 1018 eV respectively.

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