Prompt Searches for Very-high-energy γ<i>-</i>Ray Counterparts to IceCube Astrophysical Neutrino Alerts


Abhir J., Biland A., Brand K., Bretz T., Dorner D., Eisenberger L., ...More

ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL, vol.997, no.2, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 997 Issue: 2
  • Publication Date: 2026
  • Doi Number: 10.3847/1538-4357/ae2c4e
  • Journal Name: ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, INSPEC, zbMATH, Directory of Open Access Journals, Academic Search Ultimate (EBSCO)
  • Middle East Technical University Affiliated: No

Abstract

The search for sources of high-energy astrophysical neutrinos can be significantly advanced through a multimessenger approach, which seeks to detect the gamma-rays that accompany neutrinos as they are produced at their sources. Multimessenger observations have so far provided the first evidence for a neutrino source, illustrated by the joint detection of the flaring blazar TXS 0506+056 in high-energy (E > 1 GeV) and very-high-energy (VHE; E > 100 GeV) gamma-rays in coincidence with the high-energy neutrino IceCube-170922A, identified by IceCube. Imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes (IACTs), namely FACT, H.E.S.S., MAGIC, and VERITAS, continue to conduct extensive neutrino target-of-opportunity follow-up programs. These programs have two components: follow-up observations of single astrophysical neutrino candidate events (such as IceCube-170922A), and observation of known gamma-ray sources after the identification of a cluster of neutrino events by IceCube. Here we present a comprehensive analysis of follow-up observations of high-energy neutrino events observed by the four IACTs between 2017 September (after the IceCube-170922A event) and 2021 January. Our study found no associations between gamma-ray sources and the observed neutrino events. We provide a detailed overview of each neutrino event and its potential counterparts. Furthermore, a joint analysis of all IACT data is included, yielding combined upper limits on the VHE gamma-ray flux.