High Energy Neutrino Production by Cosmic Ray Interactions in the Sun

Abstract

The flux of neutrinos originating from cosmic ray interactions with matter in the Sun has been calculated based on Monte Carlo models for high energy particle interactions. The resulting flux at the Earth (within the Sun's solid angle) is higher than the corresponding one from cosmic ray interactions with the Earth atmosphere. The smallness of the absolute rate, however, precludes it as a practical `standard candle' for neutrino telescopes and limits neutrino oscillation searches. On the other hand, it facilitates dark matter searches based on neutrinos from neutralino annihilation in the Sun.