Signature of supernova neutrino flavor mixing in water [hacek C]erenkov detectors

Journal Article · Tue Feb 15 04:00:00 EST 1994 · Physical Review, D (Particles Fields); (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.49.1762· OSTI ID:5196778

Qian, Y; Fuller, G M ^[1]

---

1. Department of Physics, 0319, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr., La Jolla, California 92093-0319 (United States)

We study supernova neutrino burst signals in large water [hacek C]erenkov detectors, examining the effects of mixing between [nu][sub [ital e]] and either [nu][sub [mu]] or [nu][sub [tau]], and taking account of charged current [nu][sub [ital e]] capture on oxygen in the detector. We show that the characteristic count rates and angular distributions from supernova neutrino-induced events can depend sensitively on the degree of neutrino flavor mixing. This sensitivity results from the different average energies expected in supernova models for [nu][sub [ital e]] on the one hand and [nu][sub [mu]] and [nu][sub [tau]] on the other, the steep increase in the [sup 16]O([nu][sub [ital e]],[ital e][sup [minus]])[sup 16]F cross section with neutrino energy, and the backward-peaked nature of the exit channel electron in this reaction. Neutrino flavor-mixing effects would be identifiable in the super Kamiokande detector for the neutrino burst of a galactic supernova.

• OSTI ID: 5196778
• Journal Information: Physical Review, D (Particles Fields); (United States), Journal Name: Physical Review, D (Particles Fields); (United States) Vol. 49:4; ISSN PRVDAQ; ISSN 0556-2821
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

662430* -- Properties of Leptons-- (1992-)
72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS
ANGULAR DISTRIBUTION
CAPTURE
CHARGED-CURRENT INTERACTIONS
CHERENKOV COUNTERS
DISTRIBUTION
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
ERUPTIVE VARIABLE STARS
FERMIONS
FLAVOR
INTERACTIONS
LEPTON REACTIONS
LEPTONS
MASSLESS PARTICLES
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
MIXING
NEUTRINO REACTIONS
NEUTRINOS
NUCLEAR REACTIONS
ORGANOLEPTIC PROPERTIES
OXYGEN 16 TARGET
PARTICLE INTERACTIONS
RADIATION DETECTORS
STARS
SUPERNOVAE
TARGETS
VARIABLE STARS