Neutrino observatory based on archaeological lead
Abstract
We propose the RES-NOVA project, which will hunt neutrinos from core-collapse supernovae (SN) via coherent elastic neutrino-nucleus scattering (CE ν NS ) using an array of archaeological lead (Pb) based cryogenic detectors. The high CE ν NS cross section on Pb and the ultrahigh radiopurity of archaeological Pb enable the operation of a high statistics experiment equally sensitive to all neutrino flavors with reduced detector dimensions in comparison with existing neutrino observatories and easy scalability to larger detector volumes. RES-NOVA is planned to operate according to three phases with increasing detector volumes: (60 cm )3 , (140 cm )3 , and ultimately 15 × (140 cm )3 . It will be sensitive to SN bursts up to Andromeda with 5 σ sensitivity with already existing technologies and will have excellent energy resolution with a 1 keV threshold. Within our Galaxy, it will be possible to discriminate core-collapse SN from black-hole-forming collapses with no ambiguity even in the first phase of RES-NOVA. The average neutrino energy of all flavors, the SN neutrino light curve, and the total energy emitted in neutrinos can potentially be constrained with a precision of a few percent in the final detector phase. RES-NOVA will be sensitive to flavor-blind neutrinos from the diffuse SN neutrino background with an exposure of 620 ton .y . The proposed RES-NOVA project has the potential to lay down the foundations for a new generation of neutrino telescopes while relying on a very simple technological setup.
- Publication:
-
Physical Review D
- Pub Date:
- September 2020
- DOI:
- 10.1103/PhysRevD.102.063001
- arXiv:
- arXiv:2004.06936
- Bibcode:
- 2020PhRvD.102f3001P
- Keywords:
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- Astrophysics - High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena;
- High Energy Physics - Experiment;
- High Energy Physics - Phenomenology
- E-Print:
- Phys. Rev. D 102, 063001 (2020)