Bounds on Non-Standard Neutrino Interactions Using PINGU

Abstract

We investigate the impact of non-standard neutrino interactions (NSIs) on atmospheric neutrinos using the proposed PINGU experiment. In particular, we focus on the matter NSI parameters $\varepsilon_{μτ}$ and $|\varepsilon_{ττ} - \varepsilon_{μμ}|$ that have previously been constrained by the Super-Kamiokande experiment. First, we present approximate analytical formulas for the difference of the muon neutrino survival probability with and without the above-mentioned NSI parameters. Second, we calculate the atmospheric neutrino events at PINGU in the energy range (2-100) GeV, which follow the trend outlined on probability level. Finally, we perform a statistical analysis of PINGU. Using three years of data, we obtain bounds from PINGU given by $-0.0043~(-0.0048) < \varepsilon_{μτ} < 0.0047~(0.0046)$ and $-0.03~(-0.016) < \varepsilon_{ττ} < 0.017~(0.032)$ at 90 % confidence level for normal (inverted) neutrino mass hierarchy, which improve the Super-Kamiokande bounds by one order of magnitude. In addition, we show the expected allowed contour region in the $\varepsilon_{μτ}$-$\varepsilon_{ττ}$ plane if NSIs exist in Nature and the result suggests that there is basically no correlation between $\varepsilon_{μτ}$ and $\varepsilon_{ττ}$.

19 pages, 7 figures. Final version published in Phys. Lett. B