On the prompt contribution to the atmospheric neutrino flux

Abstract

The prompt contribution to the atmospheric neutrino flux is analyzed. It is demonstrated that the corresponding theoretical uncertainties related to perturbative treatment of charm production, notably, the ones stemming from the low and high $x$ behavior of parton distribution functions, can be conveniently studied at the level of charm quark production. Additionally, we discuss the non-perturbative contribution to the prompt neutrino flux, related to the intrinsic charm content of the proton, and analyze its main features.

Comments: v2: accepted version