arXiv subjects

Massimiliano Lincetto

Publications and source records attributed to Massimiliano Lincetto.

12 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Lepto-hadronic modeling of blazars associated with well-reconstructed high-energy neutrino events

The association of active galactic nuclei (AGN) with high-energy neutrinos has been studied through population and individual source analyzes, but whether these associations reflect physical processes or chance coincidences remains open. Blazars, AGN with relativistic jets aligned with the line of sight, spatially consistent with IceCube high-energy events, offer a natural framework to address this question. Combining multifrequency observations with physically motivated emission models allows us to assess whether these sources can plausibly account for the detected neutrinos. We study six blazars with single gamma-ray counterparts to well-reconstructed IceCAT-1 high-energy events, accounting for the improved localization expected from IceCAT-2, and compile their multifrequency spectral energy distributions (SEDs). We model these sources within a lepto-hadronic framework, exploring their parameter space to reproduce the observed emission while favoring solutions that maximize neutrino production. The SEDs can be reproduced with compact emission regions close to the broad-line region with moderate Doppler factors. The emission is generally leptonic-dominated, with subdominant contributions from hadronic cascades, except for one source where the gamma-rays are hadronic-dominated. For four, the energy density of the relativistic particles is close to equipartition with the magnetic field. The predicted neutrino detection rates reach up to $~5x10^{-2}$ per year, mostly compatible with one observed IceCube event under Poisson statistics. While these blazars are unlikely to significantly contribute to the diffuse neutrino flux, their properties are consistent with being possible counterparts to individual neutrino events, driven by contributions of external photon fields to the hadronic interaction rate, even for sources where these fields have previously been considered as non-significant.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2026

GRB 260310A / SN 2026fgk: A Multi-Wavelength Study of a Nearby Underluminous Long GRB and SN with a Complex Afterglow

We present a comprehensive multi-wavelength study of GRB 260310A / SN 2026fgk, a nearby ($z=0.153$), long-duration gamma-ray burst (GRB) with an exceptionally underluminous prompt $γ$-ray emission and a Comptonized spectrum. The burst occurred at the edge of a blue host galaxy at a projected distance of 15 kpc, which is one of the largest offsets reported for a long GRB. The bright optical afterglow, with dense coverage from COLIBRÍ, likely peaked at a few to several hours post-burst, followed by a shallow decay not expected from canonical afterglow models. Both the optical and X-ray light curves show a brief chromatic plateau from $4-7$ days. We show that the subsequent rebrightening observed at $\sim20$ days is best explained by the combined contribution of the associated Type Ic-BL supernova, identified in GTC spectra, and a late-time refreshed shock. The broadband optical to X-ray spectral energy distribution is well described by synchrotron emission from the forward shock, while the radio observations demand an additional emission component. We model the afterglow using (a) an on-axis uniform jet from a dirty fireball with late-time energy injection and (b) a misaligned jet with power-law angular structure, both having material emitting along our line-of-sight (LOS) moving with an initial Lorentz factor of $Γ_0\sim20-35$. We conclude that at more typical GRB distances ($z\gtrsim0.5$) the prompt $γ$-ray emission from this source would likely have escaped detection, whereas its optical afterglow would have remained observable, making the event appear as an orphan afterglow or a gamma-ray quiet fast X-ray transient.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2026

Failed jet breakout in the metal-poor broad-lined type Ic supernova 2026gzf

A long-standing question in the death of massive stars is the role of relativistic jets. While many gamma-ray bursts and some fast X-ray transients seem to be associated with broad-lined type Ic supernovae, the opposite is not true. The lack of observable jet emission in those Ic-BL SNe can be explained by invoking off-axis jets, choked jets that inject all their energy into the stellar envelope, baryon-loaded jets for which the prompt high-energy emission is strongly suppressed, or non-jetted SNe. The lack of exact explosion time in the majority of SNe presents an obstacle to distinguish between these scenarios. Here we report the properties of SN 2026gzf associated with the X-ray thermal Einstein Probe shock-breakout EP260321a at z=0.0343. The absence of compelling shocked cocoon and radio emission up to 54 days, combined with initial expansion velocities of ~30,000 km/s and a circumstellar shell of ~0.07 M$_\odot$, favour a scenario for SN 2026gzf in which a jet was choked in the circumstellar shell. Our high-spatial resolution images of the SN environment show that the progenitor was located between two highly star-forming regions with a metallicity lower than any previously known Ic-BL SN. As the first case of a Ic-BL SN associated with high-energy prompt emission without the signature of a jet, SN 2026gzf provides a unique perspective to understand the successful launch of relativistic jets during the deaths of massive stars.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2025

The physical properties of candidate neutrino-emitter blazars

The processes governing the production of astrophysical high-energy neutrinos are still debated, and the sources originating them remain an open question. Among the putative emitters, active galactic nuclei have gained increasing attention. Blazars, in particular, stand out due to their ability to accelerate particles in environments with external radiation fields. Recent observations suggest they may contribute to the neutrino flux detected by IceCube. We study the physical properties of a subsample of 52 blazars proposed as candidate neutrino emitters, based on a positional cross-correlation analysis between IceCube hotspots and the 5BZCat catalog. We aim to provide a first characterization of their central engines and physical nature, to explore the potential link with neutrino production. We analyze the optical spectroscopic properties of the 52 candidate neutrino-emitter blazars to infer their accretion regime. The study is complemented by radio and $γ$-ray data, which trace the intrinsic jet power. We compare the sample to other blazar populations in the literature, perform statistical tests, and explore, through simulations, the applicability of methods that include censored data. Overall, the target sample shows properties compatible with the reference samples. We observe a mild tendency to prefer objects with intense radiation fields, typical of radiatively efficient accretors, and high radio power. Among them, 24 are detected by Fermi-LAT, spanning various $γ$-ray luminosities. We also show that statistical tests commonly used in the literature need to be handled with caution, as they are sensitive to the number of censored data and the sample size.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2025

Two 100 TeV neutrinos coincident with the Seyfert galaxy NGC 7469

In 2013, the IceCube collaboration announced the detection of a diffuse high-energy astrophysical neutrino flux. The origin of this flux is still largely unknown. The most significant individual source is the close-by Seyfert galaxy NGC 1068 at 4.2-sigma level with a soft spectral index. To identify sources based on their counterpart, IceCube releases realtime alerts corresponding to neutrinos with a high probability of astrophysical origin. We report here the spatial coincidence of two neutrino alerts, IC220424A and IC230416A, with the Seyfert galaxy NGC 7469 at a distance of 70 Mpc. We evaluate, a-posteriori, the chance probability of such a coincidence and discuss this source as a potential neutrino emitter based on its multi-wavelength properties and in comparison to NGC 1068 by performing a Goodness-of-Fit test. The test statistic is derived from a likelihood ratio that includes the neutrino angular uncertainty and the source distance. We apply this test first to a catalog of AGN sources and second to a catalog of Seyfert galaxies only. Our a-posteriori evaluation excludes the possibility of an accidental spatial coincidence of both neutrinos with the Seyfert galaxy NGC 7469 at 3.2-sigma level, leaving open the possibility that either one or both neutrinos originated from the source. To be compatible with non-detections of TeV neutrinos, the source would need to have a hard spectral index.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2024

Neutrino follow-up with the Zwicky Transient Facility: Results from the first 24 campaigns

The Zwicky Transient Facility (ZTF) performs a systematic neutrino follow-up program, searching for optical counterparts to high-energy neutrinos with dedicated Target-of-Opportunity (ToO) observations. Since first light in March 2018, ZTF has taken prompt observations for 24 high-quality neutrino alerts from the IceCube Neutrino Observatory, with a median latency of 12.2 hours from initial neutrino detection. From two of these campaigns, we have already reported tidal disruption event (TDE) AT 2019dsg and likely TDE AT 2019fdr as probable counterparts, suggesting that TDEs contribute >7.8% of the astrophysical neutrino flux. We here present the full results of our program through to December 2021. No additional candidate neutrino sources were identified by our program, allowing us to place the first constraints on the underlying optical luminosity function of astrophysical neutrino sources. Transients with optical absolutes magnitudes brighter that $-21$ can contribute no more than 87% of the total, while transients brighter than $-22$ can contribute no more than 58% of the total, neglecting the effect of extinction and assuming they follow the star formation rate. These are the first observational constraints on the neutrino emission of bright populations such as superluminous supernovae. None of the neutrinos were coincident with bright optical AGN flares comparable to that observed for TXS 0506+056/IC170922A, with such optical blazar flares producing no more than 26% of the total neutrino flux. We highlight the outlook for electromagnetic neutrino follow-up programs, including the expected potential for the Rubin Observatory.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2023

An improved infrastructure for the IceCube realtime system

The IceCube realtime alert system has been operating since 2016. It provides prompt alerts on high-energy neutrino events to the astroparticle physics community. The localization regions for the incoming direction of neutrinos are published through NASA's Gamma-ray Coordinate Network (GCN). The IceCube realtime system consists of infrastructure dedicated to the selection of alert events, the reconstruction of their topology and arrival direction, the calculation of directional uncertainty contours and the distribution of the event information through public alert networks. Using a message-based workflow management system, a dedicated software (SkyDriver) provides a representational state transfer (REST) interface to parallelized reconstruction algorithms. In this contribution, we outline the improvements of the internal infrastructure of the IceCube realtime system that aims to streamline the internal handling of neutrino events, their distribution to the SkyDriver interface, the collection of the reconstruction results as well as their conversion into human- and machine-readable alerts to be publicly distributed through different alert networks. An approach for the long-term storage and cataloging of alert events according to findability, accessibility, interoperability and reusability (FAIR) principles is outlined.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2023

Searching for high-energy neutrinos from shock-interaction powered supernovae with the IceCube Neutrino Observatory

The sources of the astrophysical neutrino flux discovered by IceCube are for the most part unresolved. Extragalactic core-collapse supernovae (CCSNe) have been suggested as candidate multi-messenger sources. In interaction-powered supernovae, a shock propagates in a dense circumstellar medium (CSM), producing a bright optical emission and potentially accelerating particles to relativistic energies. Shock interaction is believed to be the main energy source for Type IIn supernovae (identified by narrow lines in the spectrum), hydrogen-rich superluminous supernovae and a subset of hydrogen-poor superluminous supernovae. Production of high-energy neutrinos is expected in collisions between the accelerated protons in the shocks and the cold CSM particles. We select a catalog of interaction-powered supernovae from the Bright Transient Survey of the Zwicky Transient Facility. We exploit a novel modeling effort that connects the time evolution of the optical emission to the properties of the ejecta and the CSM, allowing us to set predictions of the neutrino flux for each source. In this contribution, we describe a stacking search for high-energy neutrinos from this population of CCSNe with the IceCube Neutrino Observatory.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2023

Optically Informed Searches of High-Energy Neutrinos from Interaction-Powered Supernovae

The interaction between the ejecta of supernovae (SNe) of Type IIn and a dense circumstellar medium (CSM) can efficiently generate thermal UV/optical radiation and lead to the emission of neutrinos in the $1$-$10^{3}$~TeV range. We investigate the connection between the neutrino signal detectable at the IceCube Neutrino Observatory and the electromagnetic signal observable by optical wide-field, high-cadence surveys to outline the best strategy for upcoming follow-up searches. We outline a semi-analytical model that connects the optical lightcurve properties to the SN parameters and find that a large peak luminosity (${L_{\rm{peak}}\gtrsim 10^{43}-10^{44}\,\mathrm{erg \,s^{-1}}}$) and an average rise time ($t_{\rm{rise}}\gtrsim 10-40$~days) are necessary for copious neutrino emission. Nevertheless, the most promising $ L_{\rm{peak}}$ and $t_{\rm{rise}}$ can be obtained for SN configurations that are not optimal for neutrino emission. Such ambiguous correspondence between the optical lightcurve properties and the number of IceCube neutrino events implies that relying on optical observations only, a range of expected neutrino events should be considered (e.g.~the expected number of neutrino events can vary up to two orders of magnitude for some among the brightest SNe IIn observed by the Zwicky Transient Facility up to now, SN 2020usa and SN 2020in). In addition, the peak in the high-energy neutrino curve should be expected a few $t_{\rm{rise}}$ after the peak in the optical lightcurve. Our findings highlight that it is crucial to infer the SN properties from multi-wavelength observations rather than focusing on the optical band only to enhance upcoming neutrino searches.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2021

Real-time Multi-Messenger Analysis Framework for KM3NeT

KM3NeT is a multi-purpose cubic-kilometer neutrino observatory under construction in the Mediterranean Sea. It consists of ORCA and ARCA (for Oscillation and Astroparticle Research with Cosmics in the Abyss, respectively), currently both have a few detection lines in operation. Although having different primary goals, both detectors can be used for neutrino astronomy over a wide energy range, from a few tens of MeVs to a few tens of PeV. In view of the growing field of time-domain astronomy, it is crucial to be able to identify neutrino candidates in real-time. This online neutrino sample will allow triggered neutrino alerts that will be sent to the astronomy community and to look for time/space coincidences around external electromagnetic and multi-messenger triggers. These real-time searches can significantly increase the discovery potential of transient cosmic accelerators and refine the pointing directions in the case of poorly localized triggers, such as gravitational waves. In the field of core-collapse supernovae (CCSN), the detection of the MeV-scale CCSN neutrinos is crucial as an early warning of the electromagnetic follow-up. KM3NeT's digital optical modules act as good detectors for these supernovae neutrinos. This proceeding presents the status of KM3NeT's real-time multi-messenger activities, including online event reconstruction, event classification and selection, alert distribution, and supernova monitoring.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2021

SNEWPY: A Data Pipeline from Supernova Simulations to Neutrino Signals

Current neutrino detectors will observe hundreds to thousands of neutrinos from a Galactic supernovae, and future detectors will increase this yield by an order of magnitude or more. With such a data set comes the potential for a huge increase in our understanding of the explosions of massive stars, nuclear physics under extreme conditions, and the properties of the neutrino. However, there is currently a large gap between supernova simulations and the corresponding signals in neutrino detectors, which will make any comparison between theory and observation very difficult. SNEWPY is an open-source software package which bridges this gap. The SNEWPY code can interface with supernova simulation data to generate from the model either a time series of neutrino spectral fluences at Earth, or the total time-integrated spectral fluence. Data from several hundred simulations of core-collapse, thermonuclear, and pair-instability supernovae is included in the package. This output may then be used by an event generator such as sntools or an event rate calculator such as SNOwGLoBES. Additional routines in the SNEWPY package automate the processing of the generated data through the SNOwGLoBES software and collate its output into the observable channels of each detector. In this paper we describe the contents of the package, the physics behind SNEWPY, the organization of the code, and provide examples of how to make use of its capabilities.

astro-ph.IM↗

arXiv2020

Combining neutrino experimental light-curves for pointing to the next Galactic Core-Collapse Supernova

The multi-messenger observation of the next galactic core-collapse supernova will shed light on the different physical processes involved in these energetic explosions. Good timing and pointing capabilities of neutrino detectors would help in the search for an electromagnetic or gravitational-wave counterparts. An approach for the determination of the arrival time delay of the neutrino signal at different experiments using a direct detected neutrino light-curve matching is discussed. A simplified supernova model and detector simulation are used for its application. The arrival time delay and its uncertainty between two neutrino detectors are estimated with chi-square and cross-correlation methods. The direct comparison of the detected light-curves offers the advantage to be model-independent. Millisecond time resolution on the arrival time delay at two different detectors is needed. Using the computed time delay between different combinations of currently operational and future detectors, a triangulation method is used to infer the supernova localisation in the sky. The combination of IceCube, Hyper-Kamiokande, JUNO and KM3NeT/ARCA provides a 90% confidence area of 140$\pm$20 deg$^2$. These low-latency analysis methods can be implemented in the SNEWS alert system.

astro-ph.HE↗