标题： 用超高能宇宙射线寻找中性轻子 显示英文标题

标题： Hunting for Neutral Leptons with Ultra-High-Energy Cosmic Rays

摘要： 下一代大体积探测器，如GRAND、POEMMA、Trinity、TAROGE-M、TAMBO或PUEO，已被设计用于以前所未有的灵敏度搜索超高能宇宙射线（UHECRs）。 我们建议使用这些探测器来寻找标准模型（BSM）之外的新物理现象。 通过考虑一个仅与活性$\tau$中微子混合的右手中微子的简单情况，我们证明新物理的存在可以增加UHECRs穿过地球并产生可很快测量的广延大气簇射的概率。 我们比较了来自各种弥散和瞬时高能中微子源的此类簇射通量，既在标准模型内，也在存在右手中微子的情况下。 我们表明，检测出现角度为$\gtrsim 10$度的事件有望用于探测BSM物理的存在，并我们研究了GRAND和POEMMA对此的敏感性。 特别是，我们表明，具有$\mathcal O(1-16)$GeV 质量的右手中微子假设可能在未来被探测到，其混合角小至$|U_{\tau N}|^2 \gtrsim 10^{-7}$，从而与现有和计划中的实验限制相竞争。 显示英文摘要

摘要： Next-generation large-volume detectors, such as GRAND, POEMMA, Trinity, TAROGE-M, TAMBO, or PUEO, have been designed to search for ultra-high-energy cosmic rays (UHECRs) with unprecedented sensitivity. We propose to use these detectors to search for new physics beyond the Standard Model (BSM). By considering the simple case of a right-handed neutrino that mixes exclusively with the active $\tau$ neutrino, we demonstrate that the existence of new physics can increase the probability for UHECRs to propagate through the Earth and produce extensive air showers that will be measurable soon. We compare the fluxes of such showers that would arise from various diffuse and transient sources of high-energy neutrinos, both in the Standard Model and in the presence of a right-handed neutrino. We show that detecting events with emergence angles $\gtrsim 10$ deg is promising to probe the existence of BSM physics, and we study the sensitivity of GRAND and POEMMA to do so. In particular, we show that the hypothesis of a right-handed neutrino with a mass of $\mathcal O(1-16)$ GeV may be probed in the future for mixing angles as small as $|U_{\tau N}|^2 \gtrsim 10^{-7}$, thus competing with existing and projected experimental limits.