arXiv subjects

G. Sigl

Publications and source records attributed to G. Sigl.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2007

CRPropa: A Numerical Tool for the Propagation of UHE Cosmic Rays, Gamma-rays and Neutrinos

To understand the origin of ultra-high energy cosmic rays (UHECRs, defined to be above 10^18 eV), it is required to model in a realistic way their propagation in the Universe. UHECRs can interact with low energy radio, microwave, infrared and optical photons to produce electron/positron pairs or pions. The latter decay and give rise to neutrinos and electromagnetic cascades extending down to MeV energies. In addition, deflections in cosmic magnetic fields can influence the spectrum and sky distribution of primary cosmic rays and, due to the increased propagation path length, the secondary neutrino and gamma-ray fluxes. Neutrino, gamma-ray, cosmic ray physics and extra-galactic magnetic fields are, therefore, strongly linked subjects and should be considered together in order to extract maximal information from existing and future data, like the one expected from the Auger Observatory. For that purpose, we have developed CRPropa, a publicly-available numerical package which takes into account interactions and deflections of primary UHECRs as well as propagation of secondary electromagnetic cascades and neutrinos. CRPropa allows to compute the observable properties of UHECRs and their secondaries in a variety of models for the sources and propagation of these particles. Here we present physical processes taken into account as well as benchmark examples; a detailed documentation of the code can be found on our web site.

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arXiv2007

Self-induced conversion in dense neutrino gases: Pendulum in flavour space

Neutrino-neutrino interactions can lead to collective flavour conversion effects in supernovae and in the early universe. We demonstrate that the case of "bipolar" oscillations, where a dense gas of neutrinos and antineutrinos in equal numbers completely converts from one flavour to another even if the mixing angle is small, is equivalent to a pendulum in flavour space. Bipolar flavour conversion corresponds to the swinging of the pendulum, which begins in an unstable upright position (the initial flavour), and passes through momentarily the vertically downward position (the other flavour) in the course of its motion. The time scale to complete one cycle of oscillation depends logarithmically on the vacuum mixing angle. Likewise, the presence of an ordinary medium can be shown analytically to contribute to a logarithmic increase in the bipolar conversion period. We further find that a more complex (and realistic) system of unequal numbers of neutrinos and antineutrinos is analogous to a spinning top subject to a torque. This analogy easily explains how such a system can oscillate in both the bipolar and the synchronised mode, depending on the neutrino density and the size of the neutrino-antineutrino asymmetry. Our simple model applies strictly only to isotropic neutrino gasses. In more general cases, and especially for neutrinos streaming from a supernova core, different modes couple to each other with unequal strength, an effect that can lead to kinematical decoherence in flavour space rather than collective oscillations. The exact circumstances under which collective oscillations occur in non-isotropic media remain to be understood.

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arXiv2007

Self-induced decoherence in dense neutrino gases

Dense neutrino gases exhibit collective oscillations where "self-maintained coherence" is a characteristic feature, i.e., neutrinos of different energies oscillate with the same frequency. In a non-isotropic gas, however, the flux term of the neutrino-neutrino interaction has the opposite effect of causing kinematical decoherence of neutrinos propagating in different directions, an effect that is at the origin of the "multi-angle behavior" of neutrinos streaming off a supernova core. We cast the equations of motion in a form where the role of the flux term is manifest. We study in detail the symmetric case of equal neutrino and antineutrino densities where the evolution consists of collective pair conversions ("bipolar oscillations"). A gas of this sort is unstable in that an infinitesimal anisotropy is enough to trigger a run-away towards flavor equipartition. The "self-maintained coherence" of a perfectly isotropic gas gives way to "self-induced decoherence."

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arXiv2003

Ultra-High Energy Cosmic Rays from Quasar Remnants

One of the models recently proposed to explain the origin of the ultra high energy cosmic rays assumes that these particles may be accelerated by the electromotive force around presently inactive quasar remnants. We study predictions for large and small scale ultra high energy cosmic ray arrival direction anisotropies in a scenario where the particles are injected with a mono-energetic spectrum by a discrete distribution of such sources. We find that known quasar remnants are typically distributed too anisotropically to explain the isotropic ultra high energy cosmic ray flux except in the unrealistic case where extragalactic magnetic fields of ~0.1 microGauss extend over many Mpc.

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arXiv2002

Large Scale Magnetic Fields and the Number of Cosmic Ray Sources above 10^(19) eV

We present numerical simulations for the two-point correlation function and the angular power spectrum of nucleons above 10^{19} injected by a discrete distribution of sources following a simple approximation to the profile of the Local Supercluster. We develop a method to constrain the number of sources necessary to reproduce the observed sky distribution of ultra-high energy cosmic rays, as a function of the strength of the large scale cosmic magnetic fields in the Local Supercluster. While for fields B < 0.05 micro Gauss the Supercluster source distribution is inconsistent with the data for any number of sources, fields of strength B~0.3 micro Gauss could reproduce the observed data with a number of sources around 10.

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arXiv2001

Ultrahigh Energy Neutrinos and Cosmic Rays as Probes of New Physics

Cosmic high energy neutrinos are inextricably linked to the origin of cosmic rays which is one of the major unresolved questions in astrophysics. In particular, the highest energy cosmic rays observed possess macroscopic energies and their origin is likely to be associated with the most energetic processes in the Universe. Their existence triggered a flurry of theoretical explanations ranging from conventional shock acceleration to particle physics beyond the Standard Model and processes taking place at the earliest moments of our Universe. Furthermore, many new experimental activities promise a considerable increase of statistics at the highest energies and a combination with gamma-ray and neutrino astrophysics will put strong constraints on these theoretical models. The detection of ultra high energy neutrinos in particular is made likely by new experimental techniques and will open an important new channel. We give an overview over this quickly evolving field with special emphasize on new experimental ideas and possibilities for probing new physics beyond the electroweak scale.

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arXiv2001

Centaurus A as the Source of ultra-high energy cosmic rays?

We present numerical simulations for energy spectra and angular distributions of nucleons above 10^{19} eV injected by the radio-galaxy Centaurus A at a distance 3.4 Mpc and propagating in extra-galactic magnetic fields in the sub-micro Gauss range. We show that field strengths B~0.3 micro Gauss, as proposed by Farrar and Piran, cannot provide sufficient angular deflection to explain the observational data. A magnetic field of intensity ~1 micro Gauss could reproduce the observed large-scale isotropy and could marginally explain the observed energy spectrum. However, it would not readily account for the E=320 plusminus 93 EeV Fly's Eye event that was detected at an angle 136 degrees away from Cen-A. Such a strong magnetic field also saturates observational upper limits from Faraday rotation observations and X-ray bremsstrahlung emission from the ambient gas (assuming equipartition of energy). This scenario may already be tested by improving magnetic field limits with existing instruments. We also show that high energy cosmic ray experiments now under construction will be able to detect the level of anisotropy predicted by this scenario. We conclude that for magnetic fields B~0.1-0.5 micro Gauss, considered as more reasonable for the local Supercluster environment, in all likelihood at least a few sources within ~10 Mpc from the Earth should contribute to the observed ultra high energy cosmic ray flux.

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arXiv2001

Astrophysical Limits on Massive Dark Matter

Annihilations of weakly interacting dark matter particles provide an important signature for the possibility of indirect detection of dark matter in galaxy halos. These self-annihilations can be greatly enhanced in the vicinity of a massive black hole. We show that the massive black hole present at the centre of our galaxy accretes dark matter particles, creating a region of very high particle density. Consequently the annihilation rate is considerably increased, with a large number of $e^+e^-$ pairs being produced either directly or by successive decays of mesons. We evaluate the synchrotron emission (and self-absorption) associated with the propagation of these particles through the galactic magnetic field, and are able to constrain the allowed values of masses and cross sections of dark matter particles.

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arXiv2000

Annihilations from the Galactic Centre

A massive black hole is present at the centre of our galaxy and inevitably accretes dark matter particles, creating a region of very high particle density. The annihilation rate is enhanced with a large number of e+e- pairs produced either directly or by successive decays of mesons. We evaluate the synchrotron emission (and self-absorption) associated with the propagation of these particles through the galactic magnetic field and give constraints on the values of mass and cross section of the dark matter particles.

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arXiv2000

Prolongation of Friction Dominated Evolution for Superconducting Cosmic Strings

This investigation is concerned with cosmological scenarios based on particle physics theories that give rise to superconducting cosmic strings (whose subsequent evolution may produce stable loop configurations known as vortons). Cases in which electromagnetic coupling of the string current is absent or unimportant have been dealt with in previous work. The purpose of the present work is to provide quantitative estimates for cases in which electromagnetic interaction with the surrounding plasma significantly affects the string dynamics. In particular it will be shown that the current can become sufficiently strong for the initial period of friction dominated string motion to be substantially prolonged, which would entail a reinforcement of the short length scale end of the spectrum of the string distribution, with potentially observable cosmological implications if the friction dominated scenario lasts until the time of plasma recombination.

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arXiv2000

Electron-, Mu-, and Tau-Number Conservation in a Supernova Core

We study if the neutrino mixing parameters suggested by the atmospheric neutrino anomaly imply chemical equilibrium between mu- and tau-flavored leptons in a supernova (SN) core. The initial flavor-conversion rate would indeed be fast if the nu_mu-nu_tau-mixing angle were not suppressed by second-order refractive effects. The neutrino diffusion coefficients are different for nu_mu, anti-nu_mu, nu_tau and anti-nu_tau so that neutrino transport will create a net mu and tau lepton number density. This will typically lead to a situation where the usual first-order refractive effects dominate, further suppressing the rate of flavor conversion. Altogether, neutrino refraction has the nontrivial consequence of guaranteeing the separate conservation of e, mu, and tau lepton number in a SN core on the infall and cooling time scales, even when neutrino mixing angles are large.

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arXiv1996

Supernova Neutrino Scattering Rates Reduced by Nucleon Spin Fluctuations: Perturbative Limit

In a nuclear medium, spin-dependent forces cause the nucleon spins to fluctuate with a rate $Γ_σ$. We have previously shown that as a consequence the effective axial-current neutrino-nucleon scattering cross section is reduced. Here, we calculate this reduction explicitly in the perturbative limit $Γ_σ\ll T$. By virtue of an exact sum rule of the spin-density structure function, we express the modified cross section in terms of the matrix element for neutrino-nucleon scattering in the presence of a spin-dependent nuclear potential. This representation allows for a direct comparison with and confirmation of Sawyer's related perturbative result. In a supernova core with a typical temperature $T=10\,\rm MeV$, the perturbative limit is relevant for densities $ρ\alt10^{13}\,\rm g\,cm^{-3}$ and thus applies around the neutrino sphere. There, the cross-section reduction is of order a few percent and thus not large; however, a new mode of energy transfer between neutrinos and nucleons is enabled which may be important for neutrino spectra formation. We derive an analytic perturbative expression for the rate of energy transfer.

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arXiv1995

A Break in the Highest Energy Cosmic Ray Spectrum: A Signature of New Physics?

Recent experimental data from the Fly's Eye and the Akeno array seem to indicate significant structure in the ultrahigh energy cosmic ray spectrum above $10^{18}\eV$. A statistically significant dip has been established at about $5\times10^{18}\eV$. In addition, each experiment observed a different superhigh energy event above $10^{20}\eV$ separated from the rest of the data by about half a decade in energy. In this article we discuss what this implies for the existence or non-existence of the ``Greisen-Zatsepin-Kuz'min cutoff'', a long lasting and still open question in cosmic ray physics. This cutoff, caused by energy losses in the cosmic microwave background, is predicted to occur at a few times $10^{19}\eV$ if cosmic rays are produced by shock acceleration of lower energy particles at extragalactic distances. We show that from the spectral point of view, sources nearer than a few $\Mpc$ are still consistent with the data at the $1σ$ level, provided these sources accelerate particles beyond $3\times10^{20}\eV$. However, persistence of the apparent gap in the existing data at the level of a 4 times higher total exposure would rule out a wide range of acceleration models at $98\%$ C.L., whether they rely on nearby or extragalactic sources. This might hint to the existence of a ``top down'' mechanism which produces an additional hard component of ultrahigh energy particles directly, say, by decay from some higher energy scale in contrast to bottom up acceleration of charged particles. In this scenario a cutoff followed by a pronounced spectral flattening and possibly even a gap could naturally be formed.

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arXiv1995

HELIUM PHOTODISINTEGRATION AND NUCLEOSYNTHESIS: IMPLICATIONS FOR TOPOLOGICAL DEFECTS, HIGH ENERGY COSMIC RAYS, AND MASSIVE BLACK HOLES

We consider the production of $^3$He and $^2$H by $^4$He photodisintegration initiated by non-thermal energy releases during early cosmic epochs. We find that this process cannot be the predominant source of primordial $^2$H since it would result in anomalously high $^3$He/D ratios in conflict with standard chemical evolution assumptions. We apply this fact to constrain topological defect models of highest energy cosmic ray (HECR) production. Such models have been proposed as possible sources of ultrahigh energy particles and gamma-rays with energies above $10^{20}$eV. The constraints on these models derived from $^4$He-photodisintegration are compared to corresponding limits from spectral distortions of the cosmic microwave background radiation (CMBR) and from the observed diffuse gamma-ray background. It is shown that for reasonable primary particle injection spectra superconducting cosmic strings, unlike ordinary strings or annihilating monopoles, cannot produce the HECR flux at the present epoch without violating at least the $^4$He-photodisintegration bound. The constraint from the diffuse gamma-ray background rules out the dominant production of HECR by the decay of Grand Unification particles in models with cosmological evolution assuming standard fragmentation functions. Constraints on massive black hole induced photodisintegration are also discussed.

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arXiv1995

TOPOLOGICAL DEFECTS AND HIGHEST ENERGY COSMIC AND GAMMA RAYS

In this paper we review the hypothesis that a considerable part of the cosmic ray flux observed above about $10^{19}\eV$ may be produced by decaying or annihilating topological defects left over from phase transitions in the early universe at grand unification energy scales ($\approx10^{16}\GeV$). Possible signatures of cosmic ray producing defect models are discussed which could be tested experimentally in the near future. We thereby focus on model independent universal spectral properties of the predicted particle fluxes.

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arXiv1994

Monopole Annihilation and Highest Energy Cosmic Rays

Cosmic rays with energies exceeding $10^{20}\eV$ have been detected. The origin of these highest energy cosmic rays remains unknown. Established astrophysical acceleration mechanisms encounter severe difficulties in accelerating particles to these energies. Alternative scenarios where these particles are created by the decay of cosmic topological defects have been suggested in literature. In this paper we study the possibility of producing the highest energy cosmic rays through a process that involves formation of metastable magnetic monopole-antimonopole bound states and their subsequent collapse. The annihilation of the heavy monopole-antimonopole pairs constituting the monopolonia can produce energetic nucleons, gamma rays and neutrinos whose expected flux we estimate and discuss in relation to experimental data so far available. The monopoles we consider are the ones that could be produced in the early universe during a phase transition at the grand unification energy scale. We find that observable cosmic ray fluxes can be produced with monopole abundances compatible with present bounds.

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arXiv1994

Neutrino Mixing Constraints and Supernova Nucleosynthesis

We reexamine the constraints on mixing between electron and muon or tau neutrinos from shock-reheating and r-process nucleosynthesis in supernovae. To this end neutrino flavor evolution is described by nonlinear equations following from a quantum kinetic approach. This takes into account neutrino forward scattering off the neutrino background itself. In contrast to other claims in the literature it is shown that a sound self-consistent analytical approximation can in the first place only be performed in the adiabatic limit where phase terms are suppressed. In the cosmologically interesting mass range below about $25\eV$ the resulting mixing parameter bounds are between one and two orders of magnitude less restrictive than limits neglecting neutrino contributions. Extensions to the non-adiabatic regime derived in the literature usually neglect coherence effects from phases. To check their importance numerical simulations of the evolution equations were performed in this regime. They indicate that analytical approximations for the flavor conversion efficiencies can indeed be extended by neglecting phase terms. This allows more stringent bounds similar to the ones derived in earlier work. These bounds depend to some extent on the adopted supernova model and tend to be somewhat less restrictive in the mixing angle but simultaneously extend to smaller mixing masses compared to limits neglecting the neutrino induced potential.

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arXiv1994

Massive Tau Neutrino and SN 1987a

The emission of $\MeV$-mass tau neutrinos from newly formed neutron stars is considered in a simple, but accurate, model based upon the diffusion approximation. The tau-neutrinosphere temperature is found to increase with mass so that emission of massive tau neutrinos is not suppressed by the Boltzmann factor previously used, $(\mnu /T_ν)^{1.5}\exp(-\mnu/T_ν)$, where $T_ν\sim 4\MeV -8\MeV$. If the tau neutrino decays to electron neutrinos, then for short lifetimes ($\taunu\la10^{-3}\sec$) the location of both the tau and electron neutrinospheres can be affected, and, for very short lifetimes ($τ_ν\la 10^{-6}\sec$) its temperature falls below $1\MeV$, in conflict with neutrino observations of Supernova 1987A (SN 87A). Using our results, we revise limits to the mass/lifetime of an $\MeV$-mass tau neutrino based upon SN 87A. Our constraints, together with bounds based upon primordial nucleosynthesis and the laboratory mass limit of around $30\MeV$, exclude the possibility of a tau neutrino more massive than $0.4\MeV$ if the dominant decay mode is radiative. Finally, we speculate on the possible role a $15\MeV -25\MeV$ tau neutrino might play in the supernova explosion itself.

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