Supernova neutrino physics with xenon dark matter detectors: A timely perspective

Rafael F. Lang, Christopher McCabe, Shayne Reichard, Marco Selvi, and Irene Tamborra
Phys. Rev. D 94, 103009 – Published 23 November 2016

Abstract

Dark matter detectors that utilize liquid xenon have now achieved tonne-scale targets, giving them sensitivity to all flavors of supernova neutrinos via coherent elastic neutrino-nucleus scattering. Considering for the first time a realistic detector model, we simulate the expected supernova neutrino signal for different progenitor masses and nuclear equations of state in existing and upcoming dual-phase liquid xenon experiments. We show that the proportional scintillation signal (S2) of a dual-phase detector allows for a clear observation of the neutrino signal and guarantees a particularly low energy threshold, while the backgrounds are rendered negligible during the supernova burst. XENON1T (XENONnT and LZ; DARWIN) experiments will be sensitive to a supernova burst up to 25 (35; 65) kpc from Earth at a significance of more than 5σ, observing approximately 35 (123; 704) events from a 27M supernova progenitor at 10 kpc. Moreover, it will be possible to measure the average neutrino energy of all flavors, to constrain the total explosion energy, and to reconstruct the supernova neutrino light curve. Our results suggest that a large xenon detector such as DARWIN will be competitive with dedicated neutrino telescopes, while providing complementary information that is not otherwise accessible.

  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
2 More
  • Received 28 June 2016

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.94.103009

© 2016 American Physical Society

Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)

Gravitation, Cosmology & AstrophysicsNuclear PhysicsParticles & Fields

Authors & Affiliations

Rafael F. Lang1,*, Christopher McCabe2,†, Shayne Reichard1,‡, Marco Selvi3,§, and Irene Tamborra4,∥

  • 1Department of Physics and Astronomy, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, USA
  • 2GRAPPA Centre of Excellence, University of Amsterdam, 1098 XH Amsterdam, The Netherlands
  • 3INFN-Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
  • 4Niels Bohr International Academy, Niels Bohr Institute, Blegdamsvej 17, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark

  • *rafael@purdue.edu
  • c.mccabe@uva.nl
  • sreichar@purdue.edu
  • §selvi@bo.infn.it
  • tamborra@nbi.ku.dk

Article Text (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand

References (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand
Issue

Vol. 94, Iss. 10 — 15 November 2016

Reuse & Permissions
Access Options
CHORUS

Article Available via CHORUS

Download Accepted Manuscript
Author publication services for translation and copyediting assistance advertisement

Authorization Required


×
×

Images

×

Sign up to receive regular email alerts from Physical Review D

Log In

Cancel
×

Search


Article Lookup

Paste a citation or DOI

Enter a citation
×