MULTI-GeV NEUTRINOS DUE TO $n\bar n$ OSCILLATION IN GAMMA-RAY BURST FIREBALLS

Abstract

The long and short gamma-ray bursts are believed to be produced due to collapse of massive stars and merger of compact binaries respectively. All these objects are rich in neutron and the jet outflow from these objects must have a neutron component in it. By postulating the [Formula: see text] oscillation in the gamma-ray burst fireball, we show that, 19–38 GeV neutrinos and anti-neutrinos can be produced due to annihilation of anti-neutrons with the background neutrons. These neutrinos and anti-neutrinos will be produced before the 5–10 GeV neutrinos due to dynamical decoupling of neutrons from the rest of the fireball. Observation of these neutrinos will shed more light on the nature of the GRB progenitors and also be a unique signature of physics beyond the standard model. A possible way of detecting these neutrinos in future is also discussed.