Abstract
We show that future detectors of ultrahigh-energy cosmic-ray neutrinos will be able to measure neutrino-nucleon cross section, , at energies as high as or higher. We find that the flux of upgoing charged leptons per unit surface area produced by neutrino interactions below the surface is inversely proportional to . This contrasts with the rate of horizontal air showers (HAS) due to neutrino interactions in the atmosphere, which is proportional to . Thus, by comparing the HAS and upgoing air shower rates, the neutrino-nucleon cross section can be inferred. Taken together, upgoing and horizontal rates ensure a healthy total event rate, regardless of the value of .
- Received 10 June 2001
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.88.161101
©2002 American Physical Society