Abstract
We note that the theoretical prediction of neutrinos from gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) by IceCube overestimates the GRB neutrino flux, because they ignore both the energy dependence of the fraction of proton energy transferred to charged pions and the radiative energy loss of secondary pions and muons when calculating the normalization of the neutrino flux. After correction, GRB neutrino flux is reduced by a factor for typical GRB spectral parameters and may be consistent with the present zero event detected by IceCube. More observations are important to push the sensitivity below the prediction and test whether GRBs are the sources of ultrahigh energy cosmic rays.
- Received 27 September 2011
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.85.027301
© 2012 American Physical Society