In a recent study led by Tianyao Zhou and colleagues from the Shanghai Astronomical Observatory, researchers have uncovered a potential link between high-energy neutrinos and tidal disruption events (TDEs), which are rare astronomical occurrences where a star is torn apart by a supermassive black hole. This research, published in the journal Nature Astronomy, offers insights that could have implications for understanding the origins of high-energy neutrinos and potentially informing the energy sector’s pursuit of advanced particle acceleration technologies.
The study focuses on the detection of high-energy neutrinos by the IceCube Neutrino Observatory, which has identified numerous such particles but has yet to pinpoint their astrophysical sources. The researchers cross-referenced data from IceCube with observations of mid-infrared outbursts and transient radio flares in nearby galaxies. They identified a dust-obscured TDE candidate, SDSS J151345.75 +311125.2, which spatially and temporally aligns with the sub-PeV neutrino event IC170514B. This alignment suggests a possible connection between TDEs and high-energy neutrino production.
By analyzing the synchrotron spectral evolution over 605 days post-discovery, the researchers found minimal changes in the radio-emitting region, with kinetic energy estimates reaching up to 10^51 erg, depending on the assumed outflow geometry and shock acceleration efficiency. High-resolution imaging using the European VLBI Network revealed compact radio emission unresolved at scales smaller than 2.1 parsecs, with a brightness temperature exceeding 5 million Kelvin. This suggests that the late-time radio emission likely results from the interaction between a decelerating outflow and a dense circumnuclear medium.
The researchers propose that the neutrino production could be linked to proton acceleration through proton-proton (pp) collisions during the outflow’s expansion. This scenario implies that the interaction between the outflow and surrounding clouds could create a high-density environment conducive to the production of sub-PeV neutrinos. Future identifications of radio transients coincident with high-energy neutrinos could test this hypothesis.
For the energy sector, understanding the mechanisms behind high-energy particle acceleration in astrophysical environments can inspire innovations in particle acceleration technologies. These advancements could potentially lead to more efficient and compact particle accelerators for various applications, including energy research, medical treatments, and industrial processes. Additionally, the study highlights the importance of multi-messenger astronomy, which combines observations of different types of signals (such as neutrinos, light, and gravitational waves) to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the universe. This approach can also be valuable for monitoring and studying high-energy phenomena relevant to the energy industry, such as solar flares and other astrophysical events that may impact space weather and satellite operations.
In summary, the research conducted by Zhou and colleagues provides a compelling case for the association between TDEs and high-energy neutrino production. This work not only advances our understanding of astrophysical processes but also offers potential insights for the development of advanced particle acceleration technologies in the energy sector. The study was published in the journal Nature Astronomy, offering a valuable contribution to the ongoing exploration of high-energy phenomena in the universe.
This article is based on research available at arXiv.