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arXiv · hep-ph/0205035

Potential for Supernova Neutrino Detection in MiniBooNE

Matthew K. Sharp·John F. Beacom·Joseph A. Formaggio
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Abstract

The MiniBooNE detector at Fermilab is designed to search for $ν_μ\to ν_e$ oscillation appearance at $E_ν\sim 1 {\rm GeV}$ and to make a decisive test of the LSND signal. The main detector (inside a veto shield) is a spherical volume containing 0.680 ktons of mineral oil. This inner volume, viewed by 1280 phototubes, is primarily a Čerenkov medium, as the scintillation yield is low. The entire detector is under a 3 m earth overburden. Though the detector is not optimized for low-energy (tens of MeV) events, and the cosmic-ray muon rate is high (10 kHz), we show that MiniBooNE can function as a useful supernova neutrino detector. Simple trigger-level cuts can greatly reduce the backgrounds due to cosmic-ray muons. For a canonical Galactic supernova at 10 kpc, about 190 supernova $\barν_e + p \to e^+ + n$ events would be detected. By adding MiniBooNE to the international network of supernova detectors, the possibility of a supernova being missed would be reduced. Additionally, the paths of the supernova neutrinos through Earth will be different for MiniBooNE and other detectors, thus allowing tests of matter-affected mixing effects on the neutrino signal.

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Matthew K. Sharp, John F. Beacom, Joseph A. Formaggio. 2002-07-12. Potential for Supernova Neutrino Detection in MiniBooNE. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevd.66.013012

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