Potential divergence in tracing $μ$ and $τ$ flavors of astrophysical neutrinos

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Autore principale: Xing, Zhi-zhong
Natura: Preprint
Pubblicazione: 2025
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author Xing, Zhi-zhong
author_facet Xing, Zhi-zhong
contents We derive general formulas for three flavor fractions $(η^{}_e , η^{}_μ, η^{}_τ)$ of the high-energy neutrinos originating from a remote astrophysical source by using their flavor ratios $(f^{}_e , f^{}_μ, f^{}_τ)$ observed at a neutrino telescope, and diagnose a potential divergence associated with $η^{}_μ$ and $η^{}_τ$ as an unavoidable consequence of the $μ$-$τ$ interchange symmetry exhibiting in the $3\times 3$ lepton flavor mixing matrix $U$. We present a complete set of analytical expressions for $(η^{}_e , η^{}_μ, η^{}_τ)$ as functions of two typical $μ$-$τ$ symmetry breaking parameters in the standard parametrization of $U$, and apply it to the recent IceCube all-sky neutrino flux data ranging from 5 TeV to 10 PeV in the assumption that the relevant sources have a common flavor composition. We also explain why only $η^{}_e$ and $η^{}_μ+ η^{}_τ$ can be extracted from a precision measurement of $f^{}_e$ and $f^{}_μ= f^{}_τ$ in the exact $μ$-$τ$ flavor symmetry limit.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2511_15127
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Potential divergence in tracing $μ$ and $τ$ flavors of astrophysical neutrinos
Xing, Zhi-zhong
High Energy Physics - Phenomenology
Cosmology and Nongalactic Astrophysics
High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena
High Energy Physics - Experiment
We derive general formulas for three flavor fractions $(η^{}_e , η^{}_μ, η^{}_τ)$ of the high-energy neutrinos originating from a remote astrophysical source by using their flavor ratios $(f^{}_e , f^{}_μ, f^{}_τ)$ observed at a neutrino telescope, and diagnose a potential divergence associated with $η^{}_μ$ and $η^{}_τ$ as an unavoidable consequence of the $μ$-$τ$ interchange symmetry exhibiting in the $3\times 3$ lepton flavor mixing matrix $U$. We present a complete set of analytical expressions for $(η^{}_e , η^{}_μ, η^{}_τ)$ as functions of two typical $μ$-$τ$ symmetry breaking parameters in the standard parametrization of $U$, and apply it to the recent IceCube all-sky neutrino flux data ranging from 5 TeV to 10 PeV in the assumption that the relevant sources have a common flavor composition. We also explain why only $η^{}_e$ and $η^{}_μ+ η^{}_τ$ can be extracted from a precision measurement of $f^{}_e$ and $f^{}_μ= f^{}_τ$ in the exact $μ$-$τ$ flavor symmetry limit.
title Potential divergence in tracing $μ$ and $τ$ flavors of astrophysical neutrinos
topic High Energy Physics - Phenomenology
Cosmology and Nongalactic Astrophysics
High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena
High Energy Physics - Experiment
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2511.15127