IceCube PeV Neutrino Events from the Decay of Superheavy Dark Matter;an Analysis

Abstract

Considering the ultrahigh energy (UHE) neutrino events reported by IceCube in the PeV regime to have originated from the decay of superheavy dark matter, the IceCube UHE neutrino events are analysed and the best fit values of the two parameters namely the mass of the superheavy dark matter and its decay lifetime are obtained. The theoretical astrophysical flux is also included in theanalysis. We find that while the neutrino events in the energy range $\sim$ 60 TeV-$\sim$ 120 TeV appears to have astrophysical origin, the events in the energy range $\sim 1.2 \times 10^5$ GeV - $\sim 5 \times 10^7$ GeV can be well described from the superheavy dark matter decay hypothesis. We also find that although hadronic decay channel of the superheavy dark matter can well explain the events in the energy range $\sim 1.2 \times 10^5$ GeV - $\sim 5 \times 10^6$ GeV, the higher energy regime higher than this range can be addressed only when the leptonic decay channel is considered.