Letter to the Editor

Cosmogenic gamma-ray and neutrino fluxes from blazars associated with IceCube events

¹ Astronomy & Astrophysics Group, Raman Research Institute, Bengaluru, 560080 Karnataka, India
e-mail: saikatdas@rri.res.in, nayan@rri.res.in
² Centre for Astro-Particle Physics (CAPP) and Department of Physics, University of Johannesburg, PO Box 524, Auckland Park 2006, South Africa
e-mail: srazzaque@uj.ac.za

Received: 31 August 2021
Accepted: 23 January 2022

Abstract

Context. Blazars constitute the vast majority of extragalactic γ-ray sources. They can also contribute a sizable fraction of the diffuse astrophysical neutrinos detected by IceCube. In the past few years, the real-time alert system of IceCube has led to the multiwavelength follow-up of very high-energy neutrino events of plausible astrophysical origin. Spatial and temporal coincidences of a number of these neutrino events with γ-ray blazars provide a unique opportunity to decipher cosmic-ray interactions in the relativistic jets.

Aims. The aim of this work is to test if the γ-ray blazars associated with the IceCube neutrino events are also sources of ultra-high-energy cosmic rays (UHECRs; E > 10¹⁸ eV).

Methods. Assuming that blazars accelerate UHECRs, we calculate the “guaranteed” contribution to the line-of-sight cosmogenic γ-ray and neutrino fluxes from four blazars associated with IceCube neutrino events. We compare these fluxes with the sensitivities of the upcoming γ-ray imaging telescopes, such as the CTA, and with the planned neutrino detectors, such as IceCube-Gen2.

Results. We find that detection of the cosmogenic neutrino fluxes from the blazars TXS 0506+056, PKS 1502+106, and GB6 J1040+0617 would require UHECR luminosity ≳10 times the inferred neutrino luminosity from the associated IceCube events, with the maximum UHECR proton energy E_p, max ≈ 10²⁰ eV. Cosmogenic γ-ray emission from blazars TXS 0506+056, 3HSP J095507.9 +355101, and GB6 J1040+0617 can be detected by the CTA if the UHECR luminosity is ≳10 times the neutrino luminosity inferred from the associated IceCube events and for E_p, max ≳ 10¹⁹ eV.

Conclusions. Detection of cosmogenic neutrino and/or γ-ray flux(es) from blazars associated with IceCube neutrinos may lead to the first direct signature(s) of UHECR sources. Given their relatively low redshifts and hence total energetics, TXS 0506+056 and 3HSP J095507.9+355101 should be the prime targets for upcoming large neutrino and γ-ray telescopes.