XXth International Conference on Neutrino Physics and Astrophysics
A.T.Habig
The Many Uses of Upward-Going Muons in Super-K
The highest energy neutrinos observed by the Super-Kamiokande
experiment are detected via muons resulting from a neutrino
interaction in the rock below coming up through the detector. These
neutrinos form the high energy end (typical E_nu ~ 100 GeV) of the
atmospheric \nu spectra observed by Super-K, providing an important
energy lever arm for determining the parameters involved in the
apparent nu_mu <--> nu_tau oscillations. The high energies also
provide a powerful tool to investigate alternative scenarios for the
nu_mu disappearance, such as nu_mu <--> nu_s or nu decay. Other
potential sources of high energy nu are also investigated, such as
astrophysical point sources, nu interactions in the galactic plane, or
WIMP annihilation. All data which has been collected from the
experiment's start in April 1996 through its maintenance shutdown in
July 2001 have now been analyzed. Neither alternative disappearance
scenarios nor sources other than atmospheric cosmic ray interactions
are consistent with the Super-K data.
Based on a paper in preparation.