Obtaining supernova directional information using the neutrino matter oscillation pattern
Published
Journal Article
A nearby core collapse supernova will produce a burst of neutrinos in several detectors worldwide. With reasonably high probability, the Earth will shadow the neutrino flux in one or more detectors. In such a case, for allowed oscillation parameter scenarios, the observed neutrino energy spectrum will bear the signature of oscillations in Earth matter. Because the frequency of the oscillations in energy depends on the path length traveled by the neutrinos in the Earth, an observed spectrum also contains information about the direction to the supernova. We explore here the possibility of constraining the supernova location using matter oscillation patterns observed in a detector. Good energy resolution (typical of scintillator detectors), well-known oscillation parameters, and optimistically large (but conceivable) statistics are required. Pointing by this method can be significantly improved using multiple detectors located around the globe. Although it is not competitive with neutrino-electron elastic scattering-based pointing with water Cherenkov detectors, the technique could still be useful. © 2010 The American Physical Society.
Full Text
Duke Authors
Cited Authors
- Scholberg, K; Burgmeier, A; Wendell, R
Published Date
- February 10, 2010
Published In
Volume / Issue
- 81 / 4
Electronic International Standard Serial Number (EISSN)
- 1550-2368
International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)
- 1550-7998
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
- 10.1103/PhysRevD.81.043007
Citation Source
- Scopus