Search for Extended Sources of Neutrino Emission in the Galactic Plane with IceCube

Collaboration
Jul 14, 2023
13 pages
Published in:
  • Astrophys.J. 956 (2023) 1, 20
  • Published: Oct 4, 2023
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Abstract: (IOP)
The Galactic plane, harboring a diffuse neutrino flux, is a particularly interesting target in which to study potential cosmic-ray acceleration sites. Recent gamma-ray observations by HAWC and LHAASO have presented evidence for multiple Galactic sources that exhibit a spatially extended morphology and have energy spectra continuing beyond 100 TeV. A fraction of such emission could be produced by interactions of accelerated hadronic cosmic rays, resulting in an excess of high-energy neutrinos clustered near these regions. Using 10 years of IceCube data comprising track-like events that originate from charged-current muon neutrino interactions, we perform a dedicated search for extended neutrino sources in the Galaxy. We find no evidence for time-integrated neutrino emission from the potential extended sources studied in the Galactic plane. The most significant location, at 2.6σ post-trials, is a 1.°7 sized region coincident with the unidentified TeV gamma-ray source 3HWC J1951+266. We provide strong constraints on hadronic emission from several regions in the galaxy.
Note:
  • 13 pages, 4 figures, 5 tables including an appendix. Accepted for publication in Astrophysical Journal
  • neutrino: flux
  • neutrino: particle source
  • neutrino: interaction
  • cosmic radiation: acceleration
  • galaxy
  • gamma ray
  • IceCube
  • TeV
  • muon
  • LHAASO