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Observation of an Unusual Upward-Going Cosmic-Ray-like Event in the Third Flight of ANITA

P. W. Gorham et al.
Phys. Rev. Lett. 121, 161102 – Published 18 October 2018
Physics logo See Synopsis: ANITA Spots Another Inverted Cosmic-Ray-Like Event
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Abstract

We report on an upward traveling, radio-detected cosmic-ray-like impulsive event with characteristics closely matching an extensive air shower. This event, observed in the third flight of the Antarctic Impulsive Transient Antenna (ANITA), a NASA-sponsored long-duration balloon payload, is consistent with a similar event reported in a previous flight. These events could be produced by the atmospheric decay of an upward-propagating τ lepton produced by a ντ interaction, although their relatively steep arrival angles create tension with the standard model neutrino cross section. Each of the two events have a posteriori background estimates of 102 events. If these are generated by τ-lepton decay, then either the charged-current ντ cross section is suppressed at EeV energies, or the events arise at moments when the peak flux of a transient neutrino source was much larger than the typical expected cosmogenic background neutrinos.

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  • Received 8 May 2018
  • Revised 14 June 2018
  • Corrected 16 June 2020

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.121.161102

© 2018 American Physical Society

Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)

Gravitation, Cosmology & AstrophysicsParticles & Fields

Corrections

16 June 2020

Correction: The name of the 33rd author was presented incorrectly and has been fixed.

Synopsis

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ANITA Spots Another Inverted Cosmic-Ray-Like Event

Published 18 October 2018

A fountain of high-energy particles that resembles an upside-down cosmic-ray shower is detected for the second time by the Antarctic Impulsive Transient Antenna.  

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Vol. 121, Iss. 16 — 19 October 2018

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