Einstein Telescope (ET) is the European project for a gravitational-wave (GW) observatory of third-generation. In this paper we present a comprehensive discussion of its science objectives, providing state-of-the-art predictions for the capabilities of ET in both geometries currently under consideration, a single-site triangular configuration or two L-shaped detectors. We discuss the impact that ET will have on domains as broad and diverse as fundamental physics, cosmology, early Universe, astrophysics of compact objects, physics of matter in extreme conditions, and dynamics of stellar collapse. We discuss how the study of extreme astrophysical events will be enhanced by multi-messenger observations. We highlight the ET synergies with ground-based and space-borne GW observatories, including multi-band investigations of the same sources, improved parameter estimation, and complementary information on astrophysical or cosmological mechanisms obtained combining observations from different frequency bands. We present advancements in waveform modeling dedicated to third-generation observatories, along with open tools developed within the ET Collaboration for assessing the scientific potentials of different detector configurations. We finally discuss the data analysis challenges posed by third-generation observatories, which will enable access to large populations of sources and provide unprecedented precision.

The hypothesis of nonradiative neutrino decay is tested using the latest IceCube data. The track-to-shower ratio expected in IceCube is calculated in a complete decay scenario, taking into account the uncertainties in neutrino oscillation parameters and assuming only one stable neutrino. The subset of high-energy neutrino events observed by IceCube above 60 TeV, combined with the information provided by passing muons, actually disfavors the possibility of neutrinos decay at about a $2\sigma$ level of significance for both the normal and inverted neutrino mass hierarchy.

The Tibet ASγ experiment provided the first measurement of the total diffuse gamma-ray emission from the Galactic disk in the sub-PeV energy range. Based on the analysis of TeV sources included in the H.E.S.S. Galactic Plane Survey catalog, we predict the expected contribution of unresolved pulsar-powered sources in the two angular windows of the Galactic plane observed by Tibet ASγ. We show that the sum of this additional diffuse component due to unresolved sources and the truly diffuse emission, due to cosmic-ray interaction with the interstellar medium, well saturates the Tibet data, without the need to introduce a progressive hardening of the cosmic-ray spectrum toward the Galactic center.

Astronomy & Astrophysics (A&A) is an international journal which publishes papers on all aspects of astronomy and astrophysics

The crystalline color superconducting phase is believed to be the ground state of deconfined quark matter for sufficiently large values of the strange quark mass. This phase has the remarkable property of being more rigid than any known material. It can therefore sustain large shear stresses, supporting torsional oscillations of large amplitude. The torsional oscillations could lead to observable electromagnetic signals if strange stars have a crystalline color superconducting crust. Indeed, considering a simple model of a strange star with a bare quark matter surface, it turns out that a positive charge is localized in a narrow shell about ten Fermi thick beneath the star surface. The electrons needed to neutralize the positive charge of quarks spill in the star exterior forming an electromagnetically bounded atmosphere hundreds of Fermi thick. When a torsional oscillation is excited, for example by a stellar glitch, the positive charge oscillates with typical kHz frequencies, for a crust thickness of about one-tenth of the stellar radius, to hundreds of Hz, for a crust thickness of about nine-tenths of the stellar radius. Higher frequencies, of the order of few GHz, can be reached if the star crust is of the order of a few centimeters thick. We estimate the emitted power considering emission by an oscillating magnetic dipole, finding that it can be quite large, of the order of ${10}^{45}\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{erg}/\mathrm{s}$ for a thin crust. The associated relaxation times are very uncertain, with values ranging between microseconds and minutes, depending on the crust thickness. The radiated photons will be in part absorbed by the electronic atmosphere, but a sizable fraction of them should be emitted by the star.