High energy neutrino astrophysics

Abstract

I give a brief discussion of possible sources of high energy neutrinos of astrophysical origin over the energy range from $\sim 10^{12}$ eV to $\sim 10^{25}$ eV. In particular I shall review predictions of the diffuse neutrino intensity. Neutrinos from interactions of galactic cosmic rays with interstellar matter are guaranteed, and the intensity can be reliably predicted to within a factor of 2. Somewhat less certain are intensities in the same energy range from cosmic rays escaping from normal galaxies or active galactic nuclei (AGN) and interacting with intracluster gas. At higher energies, neutrinos will definitely be produced by interactions of extragalactic cosmic rays with the microwave background. With the discovery that gamma ray bursts (GRB) are extragalactic, and therefore probably the most energetic phenomena in the Universe, it seems likely that they will be copious sources of high energy neutrinos. Other sources, such as AGN and topological defects, are more speculative. However, searches for neutrinos from all of these potential sources should be made because their detection would have important implications for high energy astrophysics and cosmology.