Forward production of prompt neutrinos in the atmosphere and at high-energy colliders

Abstract

The atmospheric neutrino flux at very high energies is dominated by prompt neutrinos, mostly contributed by the decays of charmed hadrons produced in the forward direction by cosmic ray interactions with air nuclei. Theoretical predictions of the prompt atmospheric neutrino flux have large uncertainties mainly related to charm hadron production. Prompt neutrinos can also be studied through high-energy colliders. In particular, two ongoing forward experiments and the proposed Forward Physics Facility at the LHC can detect forward prompt neutrinos. We will present the kinematic regions relevant to the prompt atmospheric neutrino flux in terms of collider kinematic variables, the collision energy $\sqrt{s}$ and the center-of-mass rapidity of charm hadrons $y$, and discuss implications of the forward experiments at the LHC on the theoretical predictions of the prompt atmospheric neutrino flux.