Diffuse Supernova Neutrino Background search at Super-Kamiokande with neutron tagging
Detecting the Diffuse Supernova Neutrino Background at Super-Kamiokande requires designing state-of-the-art background removal technique to reject radioactivity induced by cosmic muon spallation, and identify atmospheric neutrino interactions. Identifying the neutron produced by the interaction of DSNB antineutrinos would allow to remove most of these backgrounds, but is particularly challenging in pure water. With the advent of the SK-Gd era, with Gadolinium being dissolved in the SK water, the efficiency of the neutron tagging procedure will increase dramatically, and the SK experiment will make significant gains in its sensitivity to the DSNB. I will present the role of neutron tagging and the challenges it provides, as well as discuss the impact of the SK-Gd project.