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Neutrinos from primordial black holes in theories with extra dimensions

Luis A. Anchordoqui1,2,3, Francis Halzen4, and Dieter Lüst5,6

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Phys. Rev. D 112, 083034 – Published 16 October, 2025

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/5kt2-5pvj

Abstract

The quantum gravity scale within the dark dimension scenario (M*∼109  GeV) roughly coincides with the energy scale of the KM3-230213A neutrino (Eν∼108  GeV). We propose an interpretation for this intriguing coincidence in terms of Hawking evaporation of five-dimensional (5D) primordial black holes (PBHs). 5D PBHs are bigger, colder, and longer-lived than 4D PBHs of the same mass. For brane observers, PBHs residing in the higher-dimensional bulk decay essentially invisibly (only through gravitationally and sterile coupled modes). As a consequence, constraints on the density of PBHs relative to that of dark matter from null searches of Hawking evaporation can be avoided. We demonstrate that Hawking evaporation of 5D bulk PBHs can explain the KM3-230213A neutrino, evade constraints from upper limits on the gamma-ray flux, and remain consistent with IceCube upper limits on the partial decay width of superheavy dark matter particles into neutrinos.

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Phys. Rev. D 112, 083034– Published 16 October, 2025
  • Received 15 June 2025
  • Revised 23 September 2025
  • Accepted 27 September 2025
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Published by the American Physical Society under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license. Further distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the published article’s title, journal citation, and DOI. Funded by SCOAP3.

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