Search for TeV electron neutrinos from Gamma Ray Bursts with the ARGO−YBJ experiment

The capability of the ARGO-YBJ experiment to detect Horizontal Air Showers (HAS) has been recently emphasized. More than 107 showers at zenith angles θ > 70◦ have been recorded in five years of operation. These showers are initiated by deeply penetrating high energy particles such as muons and neutrinos. Indeed, at large zenith angles the electromagnetic component of ordinary air showers is attenuated by the atmosphere well before reaching the ground level. Due to its features (a compact 92% active area equipped with a high-granularity readout) the ARGO-YBJ detector can image small size air showers induced by particles with energies down to a few TeV. We report here on a search for νe-induced HAS (73◦ ≤ θ ≤ 77◦) in temporal coincidence with the prompt phase of Gamma Ray Bursts.