Constraining the Prompt Atmospheric Neutrino Flux combining IceCube's Cascade and Track samples
Journal article, 2026
The IceCube Neutrino Observatory has observed a diffuse flux of high-energy astrophysical neutrinos formore than a decade. A relevant background to the astrophysical flux is prompt atmospheric neutrinos, originating from the decay of charmed mesons produced in cosmic-ray-induced air showers. The production rate of charmed mesons in the very forward phase space of hadronic interactions, and consequently, the prompt neutrino flux, remains uncertain and has not yet been observed by neutrino detectors. An accurate measurement of this fluxwould enhance our understanding of fundamental particle physics such as hadronic interactions in high-energy cosmic-ray-induced air showers and the nucleon structure. Furthermore, an experimental characterization of this background flux will improve the precision of astrophysical neutrino flux spectral measurements. In this work, we perform a combined fit of cascade-like and track-like neutrino events in IceCube to constrain the prompt atmospheric neutrino flux. Given that the prompt flux is a sub-dominant contribution, treating systematic uncertainties arising from the potential mis-modeling of the conventional and astrophysical neutrino fluxes is critical for its measurement. Our analysis yields a non-zero best-fit result, which is, however, consistent with the null hypothesis of no prompt flux within one standard deviation. Consequently, we establish an upper bound on the flux at 4 x 10(-16) (GeV m(2) s sr)(-1) at 10TeV.
Author
R. Abbasi
Loyola University of Chicago
M. Ackermann
Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron (DESY)
J. Adams
University of Canterbury
S. K. Agarwalla
University of Wisconsin
University of Wisconsin Madison
Institute of Physics Bhubaneswar
J. A. Aguilar
Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB)
M. Ahlers
University of Copenhagen
J. M. Alameddine
Technische Universität Dortmund
S. Ali
University of Kansas
N. M. Amin
University of Delaware
K. Andeen
Marquette University
C. Arguelles
Harvard University
Y. Ashida
University of Utah
S. Athanasiadou
Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron (DESY)
S. N. Axani
University of Delaware
R. Babu
Michigan State University
X. Bai
South Dakota School of Mines & Technology
J. Baines-Holmes
University of Wisconsin Madison
University of Wisconsin
A. Balagopal
University of Delaware
University of Wisconsin Madison
University of Wisconsin
S. W. Barwick
University of California
S. Bash
Technical University of Munich
V. Basu
University of Utah
R. Bay
University of California
J. J. Beatty
Ohio State University
J. Becker Tjus
P. Behrens
RWTH Aachen University
J. Beise
Uppsala University
C. Bellenghi
Technical University of Munich
S. Benkel
Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron (DESY)
S. BenZvi
University of Rochester
D. Berley
University of Maryland
E. Bernardini
National Institute for Nuclear Physics
University of Padua
D. Z. Besson
University of Kansas
E. Blaufuss
University of Maryland
L. Bloom
University of Alabama
S. Blot
Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron (DESY)
I. Bodo
University of Wisconsin
University of Wisconsin Madison
F. Bontempo
Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)
J. Y. Book Motzkin
Harvard University
C. Boscolo Meneguolo
University of Padua
National Institute for Nuclear Physics
S. Boser
Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz
O. Botner
Uppsala University
J. Bottcher
RWTH Aachen University
J. Braun
University of Wisconsin
University of Wisconsin Madison
B. Brinson
Georgia Institute of Technology
Z. Brisson-Tsavoussis
Queen's University
R. T. Burley
University of Adelaide
D. Butterfield
University of Wisconsin
University of Wisconsin Madison
M. A. Campana
Drexel University
K. Carloni
Harvard University
J. Carpio
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
S. Chattopadhyay
Institute of Physics Bhubaneswar
University of Wisconsin
University of Wisconsin Madison
N. Chau
Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB)
Z. Chen
State University of New York
D. Chirkin
University of Wisconsin Madison
University of Wisconsin
S. Choi
University of Utah
B. A. Clark
University of Maryland
P. Coleman
RWTH Aachen University
G. H. Collin
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
D. A. Coloma Borja
University of Padua
A. Connolly
Ohio State University
J. M. Conrad
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
D. F. Cowen
Pennsylvania State University
C. De Clercq
Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB)
J. J. DeLaunay
Pennsylvania State University
D. Delgado
Harvard University
T. Delmeulle
Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB)
S. Deng
RWTH Aachen University
P. Desiati
University of Wisconsin Madison
University of Wisconsin
K. D. de Vries
Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB)
G. de Wasseige
Universite catholique de Louvain
T. DeYoung
Michigan State University
J. C. Diaz-Velez
University of Wisconsin Madison
University of Wisconsin
S. DiKerby
Michigan State University
T. Ding
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
University of Alberta
M. Dittmer
University of Münster
A. Domi
University of Erlangen-Nuremberg (FAU)
L. Draper
University of Utah
L. Dueser
RWTH Aachen University
D. Durnford
University of Alberta
K. Dutta
Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz
M. A. DuVernois
University of Wisconsin
University of Wisconsin Madison
T. Ehrhardt
Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz
L. Eidenschink
Technical University of Munich
A. Eimer
University of Erlangen-Nuremberg (FAU)
C. Eldridge
Ghent university
P. Eller
Technical University of Munich
E. Ellinger
Bergische Universität Wuppertal
D. Elsasser
Technische Universität Dortmund
R. Engel
Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)
H. Erpenbeck
University of Wisconsin
University of Wisconsin Madison
W. Esmail
University of Münster
S. Eulig
Harvard University
J. Evans
University of Maryland
P. A. Evenson
University of Delaware
K. L. Fan
University of Maryland
K. Fang
University of Wisconsin
University of Wisconsin Madison
K. Farrag
Chiba University
A. R. Fazely
Southern University and A&M College
A. Fedynitch
Academia Sinica
N. Feigl
Humboldt University of Berlin
C. Finley
Stockholm University
L. Fischer
Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron (DESY)
D. Fox
Pennsylvania State University
A. Franckowiak
Ruhr-Universität Bochum
S. Fukami
Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron (DESY)
P. Furst
RWTH Aachen University
J. Gallagher
University of Wisconsin Madison
E. Ganster
RWTH Aachen University
A. Garcia
Harvard University
M. Garcia
University of Delaware
G. Garg
Institute of Physics Bhubaneswar
University of Wisconsin Madison
University of Wisconsin
E. Genton
Harvard University
L. Gerhardt
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
A. Ghadimi
University of Alabama
C. Glaser
Uppsala University
Technische Universität Dortmund
T. Glusenkamp
Stockholm University
J. G. Gonzalez
University of Delaware
S. Goswami
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
A. Granados
Michigan State University
D. Grant
Simon Fraser University
S. J. Gray
University of Maryland
S. Griffin
University of Wisconsin
University of Wisconsin Madison
S. Griswold
University of Rochester
K. M. Groth
University of Copenhagen
D. Guevel
University of Wisconsin Madison
University of Wisconsin
C. Gunther
RWTH Aachen University
P. Gutjahr
Technische Universität Dortmund
C. Ha
Chung-Ang University
C. Haack
University of Erlangen-Nuremberg (FAU)
A. Hallgren
Uppsala University
L. Halve
RWTH Aachen University
F. Halzen
University of Wisconsin
University of Wisconsin Madison
L. Hamacher
RWTH Aachen University
M. Ha Minh
Technical University of Munich
M. Handt
RWTH Aachen University
K. Hanson
University of Wisconsin Madison
University of Wisconsin
J. Hardin
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
A. A. Harnisch
Michigan State University
P. Hatch
Queen's University
A. Haungs
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J. Haussler
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Bergische Universität Wuppertal
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B. Henke
Michigan State University
L. Hennig
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F. Henningsen
Simon Fraser University
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R. Hewett
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N. Heyer
Uppsala University
S. Hickford
Bergische Universität Wuppertal
A. Hidvegi
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C. Hill
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G. C. Hill
University of Adelaide
R. Hmaid
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K. D. Hoffman
University of Maryland
D. Hooper
University of Wisconsin
University of Wisconsin Madison
S. Hori
University of Wisconsin
University of Wisconsin Madison
K. Hoshina
University of Tokyo
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University of Wisconsin
M. Hostert
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W. Hou
Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)
M. Hrywniak
Stockholm University
T. Huber
Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)
K. Hultqvist
Stockholm University
K. Hymon
Academia Sinica
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A. Ishihara
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W. Iwakiri
Chiba University
M. Jacquart
University of Copenhagen
S. Jain
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University of Wisconsin
O. Janik
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M. Jansson
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M. Jeong
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M. Jin
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N. Kamp
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D. Kang
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W. Kang
Drexel University
A. Kappes
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Technische Universität Dortmund
T. Karg
Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron (DESY)
M. Karl
Technical University of Munich
A. Karle
University of Wisconsin Madison
University of Wisconsin
A. Katil
University of Alberta
M. Kauer
University of Wisconsin Madison
University of Wisconsin
J. L. Kelley
University of Wisconsin
University of Wisconsin Madison
M. Khanal
University of Utah
A. Khatee Zathul
University of Wisconsin Madison
University of Wisconsin
A. Kheirandish
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
H. Kimku
Chung-Ang University
J. Kiryluk
State University of New York
C. Klein
University of Erlangen-Nuremberg (FAU)
S. R. Klein
University of California
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Y. Kobayashi
Chiba University
A. Kochocki
Michigan State University
R. Koirala
University of Delaware
H. Kolanoski
Humboldt University of Berlin
T. Kontrimas
Technical University of Munich
L. Kopke
Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz
C. Kopper
University of Erlangen-Nuremberg (FAU)
D. J. Koskinen
University of Copenhagen
P. Koundal
University of Delaware
M. Kowalski
Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron (DESY)
Humboldt University of Berlin
T. Kozynets
University of Copenhagen
A. Kravka
University of Utah
N. Krieger
Ruhr-Universität Bochum
J. Krishnamoorthi
Institute of Physics Bhubaneswar
University of Wisconsin Madison
University of Wisconsin
T. Krishnan
Harvard University
K. Kruiswijk
Universite catholique de Louvain
E. Krupczak
Michigan State University
A. Kumar
Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron (DESY)
E. Kun
Ruhr-Universität Bochum
N. Kurahashi
Drexel University
N. Lad
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Technical University of Munich
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M. J. Larson
University of Maryland
F. Lauber
Bergische Universität Wuppertal
J. P. Lazar
Universite catholique de Louvain
K. Leonard DeHolton
Pennsylvania State University
A. Leszczynska
University of Delaware
C. Li
University of Wisconsin Madison
University of Wisconsin
J. Liao
Georgia Institute of Technology
C. Lin
University of Delaware
Q. R. Liu
Simon Fraser University
Y. T. Liu
Pennsylvania State University
M. Liubarska
University of Alberta
C. Love
Drexel University
L. Lu
University of Wisconsin
University of Wisconsin Madison
F. Lucarelli
University of Geneva
W. Luszczak
Ohio State University
Y. Lyu
University of California
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
M. Macdonald
Harvard University
J. Madsen
University of Wisconsin
University of Wisconsin Madison
E. Magnus
Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB)
Y. Makino
University of Wisconsin Madison
University of Wisconsin
E. Manao
Technical University of Munich
S. Mancina
University of Padua
National Institute for Nuclear Physics
A. Mand
University of Wisconsin
University of Wisconsin Madison
I. C. Maris
Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB)
S. Marka
Columbia University
Z. Marka
Columbia University
L. Marten
RWTH Aachen University
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Harvard University
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F. Mayhew
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University of Wisconsin
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Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron (DESY)
A. Medina
Ohio State University
M. Meier
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Y. Merckx
Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB)
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Ruhr-Universität Bochum
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Southern University and A&M College
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South Dakota School of Mines & Technology
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University of Utah
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University of Alberta
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University of Wisconsin
University of Wisconsin Madison
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E. Moyaux
Universite catholique de Louvain
T. Mukherjee
Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)
R. Naab
Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron (DESY)
M. Nakos
University of Wisconsin
University of Wisconsin Madison
U. Naumann
Bergische Universität Wuppertal
J. Necker
Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron (DESY)
L. Neste
Stockholm University
M. Neumann
University of Münster
H. Niederhausen
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M. U. Nisa
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K. Noda
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RWTH Aachen University
A. Novikov
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University of Maryland
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Technical University of Munich
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Queen's University
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E. N. Paudel
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South Dakota School of Mines & Technology
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Uppsala University
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Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron (DESY)
T. C. Petersen
University of Copenhagen
J. Peterson
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University of Utah
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J. Rack-Helleis
Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz
N. Rad
Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron (DESY)
M. Ravn
Uppsala University
K. Rawlins
University of Alaska Anchorage
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University of Wisconsin
A. Rehman
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Michigan State University
P. Sampathkumar
Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)
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H. Schieler
Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)
S. Schindler
University of Erlangen-Nuremberg (FAU)
L. Schlickmann
Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz
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University of Münster
F. Schluter
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N. Schmeisser
Bergische Universität Wuppertal
T. Schmidt
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M. Seikh
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P. A. Sevle Myhr
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R. Shah
Drexel University
S. Shah
University of Rochester
S. Shefali
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N. Shimizu
Chiba University
B. Skrzypek
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R. Snihur
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University of Wisconsin
J. Soedingrekso
Technische Universität Dortmund
D. Soldin
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P. Soldin
RWTH Aachen University
G. Sommani
Ruhr-Universität Bochum
C. Spannfellner
Technical University of Munich
G. M. Spiczak
University of Wisconsin
C. Spiering
Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron (DESY)
J. Stachurska
Ghent university
M. Stamatikos
Ohio State University
T. Stanev
University of Delaware
T. Stezelberger
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
T. Sturwald
Bergische Universität Wuppertal
T. Stuttard
University of Copenhagen
G. W. Sullivan
University of Maryland
I. Taboada
Georgia Institute of Technology
S. Ter-Antonyan
Southern University and A&M College
A. Terliuk
Technical University of Munich
A. Thakuri
South Dakota School of Mines & Technology
M. Thiesmeyer
University of Wisconsin
University of Wisconsin Madison
W. G. Thompson
Harvard University
J. Thwaites
University of Wisconsin Madison
University of Wisconsin
S. Tilav
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K. Tollefson
Michigan State University
S. Toscano
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D. Tosi
University of Wisconsin Madison
University of Wisconsin
A. Trettin
Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron (DESY)
A. K. Upadhyay
University of Wisconsin Madison
Institute of Physics Bhubaneswar
University of Wisconsin
K. Upshaw
Southern University and A&M College
A. Vaidyanathan
Marquette University
N. Valtonen-Mattila
Ruhr-Universität Bochum
J. Valverde
Marquette University
J. Vandenbroucke
University of Wisconsin Madison
University of Wisconsin
T. Van Eeden
Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron (DESY)
N. van Eijndhoven
Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB)
L. Van Rootselaar
Technische Universität Dortmund
J. van Santen
Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron (DESY)
J. Vara
University of Münster
F. Varsi
Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)
M. Venugopal
Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)
M. Vereecken
Ghent university
S. Vergara Carrasco
University of Canterbury
S. Verpoest
University of Delaware
D. Veske
Columbia University
A. Vijai
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J. Villarreal
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C. Walck
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A. Wang
Georgia Institute of Technology
E. H. S. Warrick
University of Alabama
C. Weaver
Michigan State University
P. Weigel
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
A. Weindl
Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)
J. Weldert
Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz
A. Y. Wen
Harvard University
C. Wendt
University of Wisconsin
University of Wisconsin Madison
J. Werthebach
Technische Universität Dortmund
M. Weyrauch
Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)
N. Whitehorn
Michigan State University
C. H. Wiebusch
Institute of Physics Bhubaneswar
RWTH Aachen University
D. R. Williams
University of Alabama
L. Witthaus
Technische Universität Dortmund
M. Wolf
Technical University of Munich
G. Wrede
University of Erlangen-Nuremberg (FAU)
X. W. Xu
Southern University and A&M College
J. P. Yanez
University of Alberta
Y. Yao
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University of Wisconsin
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University of Wisconsin
University of Wisconsin Madison
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University of Utah
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European Physical Journal C
1434-6044 (ISSN) 1434-6052 (eISSN)
Vol. 86 7Subject Categories (SSIF 2025)
Astronomy, Astrophysics, and Cosmology
Subatomic Physics
DOI
10.1140/epjc/s10052-026-15632-0