Multiwavelength follow-up of a rare IceCube neutrino multiplet
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
11-1-2017
Abstract
© ESO, 2017. On February 17, 2016, the IceCube real-time neutrino search identified, for the first time, three muon neutrino candidates arriving within 100 s of one another, consistent with coming from the same point in the sky. Such a triplet is expected once every 13.7 years as a random coincidence of background events. However, considering the lifetime of the follow-up program the probability of detecting at least one triplet from atmospheric background is 32%. Follow-up observatories were notified in order to search for an electromagnetic counterpart. Observations were obtained by Swift's X-ray telescope, by ASAS-SN, LCO and MASTER at optical wavelengths, and by VERITAS in the very-high-energy gamma-ray regime. Moreover, the Swift BAT serendipitously observed the location 100 s after the first neutrino was detected, and data from the Fermi LAT and HAWC observatory were analyzed. We present details of the neutrino triplet and the follow-up observations. No likely electromagnetic counterpart was detected, and we discuss the implications of these constraints on candidate neutrino sources such as gamma-ray bursts, core-collapse supernovae and active galactic nucleus flares. This study illustrates the potential of and challenges for future follow-up campaigns.
Publication Title
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Recommended Citation
Aartsen, M.,
Ackermann, M.,
Adams, J.,
Aguilar, J.,
Ahlers, M.,
Ahrens, M.,
Al Samarai, I.,
Altmann, D.,
Andeen, K.,
Anderson, T.,
Ansseau, I.,
Anton, G.,
Archinger, M.,
Argüelles, C.,
Auffenberg, J.,
Axani, S.,
Bai, X.,
Barwick, S.,
Baum, V.,
Bay, R.,
Beatty, J.,
Tjus, J.,
Becker, K.,
Benzvi, S.,
Berley, D.,
Bernardini, E.,
Bernhard, A.,
Besson, D.,
Binder, G.,
Bindig, D.,
Blaufuss, E.,
&
Blot, S.
(2017).
Multiwavelength follow-up of a rare IceCube neutrino multiplet.
Astronomy and Astrophysics,
607.
http://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201730620
Retrieved from: https://digitalcommons.mtu.edu/michigantech-p/8631