Search for Extraterrestrial Antineutrino Sources with the KamLAND Detector

Abstract

We present the results of a search for extraterrestrial electron antineutrinos (v̅ₑ) in the energy range 8.3MeV < E v̅ₑ < 31.8MeV using the KamLAND detector. In an exposure of 4.53 kton-year, we identify 25 candidate events. All of the candidate events can be attributed to background, most importantly neutral current atmospheric neutrino interactions, setting an upper limit on the probability of ⁸B solar vₑ's converting into v̅ₑ's at 5.3 x 10⁻⁵ (90% CL), if we assume an undistorted v̅ₑ shape. This limit corresponds to a solar v̅ₑ flux of 93 cm⁻²s⁻¹ or an event rate of 1.6 events (kton – year)⁻¹ above the energy threshold (E v̅ₑ ≥ 8.3MeV). The present data also allows us to set more stringent limits on the diffuse supernova neutrino flux and on the annihilation rates for light dark matter particles.

Description
Keywords
dark matter, ISM: supernova remnants, neutrinos, Sun: particle emission
Citation