Supernova Neutrino Detection

Abstract

Detecting neutrinos is the key to understanding core-collapse supernovae, but this is notoriously difficult due to the small interaction cross section of neutrinos and the low frequency of supernovae in galaxies. The revolutionary implications of the detection of about 20 neutrinos from SN 1987A tell us that this quest is worthy. However, there is the sobering fact that there have been no other detections, before or since. Now, after decades of effort and patience, we have good reasons to anticipate that detecting supernova neutrinos again is within reach, in particular for the Diffuse Supernova Neutrino Background (DSNB). A first detection of the DSNB in a short time is possible if Super-Kamiokande is upgraded with the proposed modification of dissolved gadolinium to allow neutron tagging. Longer-term, a comprehensive understanding of core-collapse supernovae will require something like the possible Hyper-Kamiokande detector, eventually also with dissolved gadolinium. This systematic path towards increasing sensitivity will surely lead to further revolutionary discoveries in astrophysics.