arXiv subjects

Yusuke Koshio

Publications and source records attributed to Yusuke Koshio.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

First measurement of flux of the neutron background induced by accelerated neutrinos at the J-PARC facility

This article reports the measurement of the neutron background flux accidentally induced by the neutrino beam at the J-PARC facility in Japan. In particular, neutrino-nucleus neutral-current quasi-elastic (NCQE) scattering events, $\nu~(\bar{\nu})+\rm{N}\to\nu~(\bar{\nu})+\rm{N'}$, can be obscured by a massive background of neutron-nucleus scattering events. The neutrons are produced within the materials (such as sand and concrete) located between the beam dump and the experimental area where the detectors are placed. We measured the accidental neutron events at the J-PARC neutrino facility using BGO and liquid scintillation detectors, with a plastic scintillation detector serving as an active veto counter. Based on a neutrino-mode data set of $2.972 \times 10^{20}$ POT, we observed 88 neutron-induced recoil proton events within an electron-equivalent recoil energy range of 0.98-11.60 $\rm MeV_{ee}$, selected via pulse-shape discrimination in the liquid scintillation detector. Accounting for the detection efficiency and resolution, and through comparison with simulations, the neutron flux was determined to be$[1.45^{+0.22}_{-0.24}~\rm{(stat.)} \pm 0.55~\rm{(sys.)}] \times 10^{-7}~\rm{cm}^{-2} \rm{s}^{-1}\rm{POT}^{-1}$,assuming an exponential neutron energy spectrum. This result will contribute to the evaluation of neutron backgrounds for neutrino experiments at the J-PARC facility.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2025

Upgrade of Super-Kamiokande with Gadolinium

Super-Kamiokande [SK] was upgraded through the addition of gadolinium sulfate to its ultrapure water, initiating the SK-Gd program. This development enables efficient neutron tagging via the large capture cross section of gadolinium, greatly improving the identification of inverse beta decay events, the primary channel for detecting the diffuse supernova neutrino background [DSNB]. The upgrade also enhances sensitivity to galactic and pre-supernova neutrinos, as well as atmospheric neutrino interactions. To realize this capability, extensive work was performed, including the construction and operation of the EGADS demonstrator, the refurbishment of the SK tank, the development of radiopure gadolinium production methods, and the validation of the loading and uniformity of gadolinium in solution. Early SK-Gd operation has demonstrated high neutron-tagging efficiency, reduced backgrounds, and world-leading limits on the DSNB flux. With these advances, SK-Gd now stands at the threshold of discovering the DSNB and opens a wide range of new opportunities in astrophysics and neutrino physics.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2025

Observing Supernova Neutrino Light Curves with Super-Kamiokande.VI. A Practical Data Analysis Technique Considering Realistic Experimental Backgrounds

Neutrinos from supernovae, especially those emitted during the late phase of core collapse, are essential for understanding the final stages of massive star evolution. We have been dedicated to developing methods for the analysis of neutrinos emitted during the late phase and observed at Super-Kamiokande (SK). Our previous studies have successfully demonstrated the potential of various analysis methods in extracting essential physical properties; however, the lack of background consideration has limited their practical application. In this study, we address this issue by incorporating a realistic treatment of the experimental signal and background events with the on-going SK experiment. We therefore optimize our analysis framework to reflect realistic observational conditions, including both signal and background events. Using this framework we study several long-time supernova models, simulating the late phase neutrino observation in SK and focusing in particular on the identification of the last observed event. We discuss the possibility of model discrimination methods using timing information from this last observed event.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2025

Neutrino Constraints on Black Hole Formation in M31

We investigate neutrino signals associated with black hole formation resulting from the gravitational collapse of massive stars, motivated by the candidate failed supernova M31-2014-DS1 in the Andromeda Galaxy (M31). By compiling numerical simulation results for stellar collapse, we predict the expected neutrino emission and compare these predictions with observational limits from Super-Kamiokande (SK). The simulations reveal a characteristic precursor signal consisting of a short, intense burst whose average neutrino energy rises rapidly and then ceases abruptly once the black hole forms. We examine several nuclear equations of state, specifically the Lattimer \& Swesty, Shen, Togashi, and SFHo models, to evaluate how the emission depends on neutron-star properties and nuclear-physics uncertainties. Comparison of the predicted event counts with SK's non-detection of neutrinos coincident with M31-2014-DS1 already rules out part of the model space and highlights the sensitivity of current neutrino detectors to both progenitor mass and the EOS. These findings demonstrate the capability of neutrino astronomy to probe core collapse and black hole formation in failed supernova scenarios.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2024

Observing Supernova Neutrino Light Curves with Super-Kamiokande. V. Distance Estimation with Neutrinos

Neutrinos are pivotal signals in multi-messenger observations of supernovae (SNe). Recent advancements in the analysis method of supernova (SN) neutrinos, especially in quantitative analysis, have significantly broadened scientific possibilities. This study demonstrates the feasibility of estimating distances to SNe using neutrinos. This estimation utilizes the direct relationship between the radius of a neutron star (NS) and the distance to the SN, which is analogous to main-sequence fitting. The radius of an NS is determined with an approximate uncertainty of 10% through observations such as X-rays and gravitational waves. By integrating this information, the distance to the SN can be estimated with an uncertainty of within 15% at a 95% confidence level. It has been established that neutrinos can pinpoint the direction of SNe, and when combined with distance estimates, three-dimensional localization becomes achievable. This capability is vital for follow-up observations using multi-messenger approaches. Moreover, more precise distance determinations to SNe through follow-up observations, such as optical observations, allow for accurate measurements of NS radii. This data, via the NS mass-radius relationship, could provide various insights into nuclear physics.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2024

Supernova burst and Diffuse Supernova Neutrino Background simulator for Water Cherenkov Detectors

If a galactic supernova explosion occurs in the future, it will be critical to rapidly alert the community to the direction of the supernova by utilizing neutrino signals in order to enable the initiation of follow-up optical observations. In addition, there is anticipation that observation of the diffuse supernova neutrino background will yield discoveries in the near future, given that experimental upper limits are approaching theoretical predictions. We have developed a new supernova event simulator for water Cherenkov neutrino detectors, such as the highly sensitive Super-Kamiokande. This simulator calculates the neutrino interaction in water for the two types of supernova neutrinos described above. Its purpose is to evaluate the precision in determining the location of supernovae and to estimate the expected number of events related to the diffuse supernova neutrino background in Super-Kamiokande. In this paper, we describe the basic structure of the simulator and its demonstration.

astro-ph.IM↗

arXiv2023

Diffuse neutrino background from past core-collapse supernovae

Core-collapse supernovae are among the most powerful explosions in the universe, emitting thermal neutrinos that carry away the majority of the gravitational binding energy released. These neutrinos create a diffuse supernova neutrino background (DSNB), one of the largest energy budgets among all radiation backgrounds. Detecting the DSNB is a crucial goal of modern high-energy astrophysics and particle physics, providing valuable insights in both core-collapse modeling, neutrino physics, and cosmic supernova rate history. In this review, we discuss the key ingredients of DSNB calculation and what we can learn from future detections, including black-hole formation and non-standard neutrino interactions. Additionally, we provide an overview of the latest updates in neutrino experiments, which could lead to the detection of the DSNB in the next decade. With the promise of this breakthrough discovery on the horizon, the study of DSNB holds enormous potential for advancing our understanding of the Universe.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2023

Observing Supernova Neutrino Light Curves with Super-Kamiokande. IV. Development of SPECIAL BLEND: a New Public Analysis Code for Supernova Neutrinos

Supernova neutrinos are invaluable signals that offer information about the interior of supernovae. Because a nearby supernova can occur at any time, preparing for future supernova neutrino observation is an urgent task. For the prompt analysis of supernova neutrinos, we have developed a new analysis code, ``Supernova Parameter Estimation Code based on Insight on Analytic Late-time Burst Light curve at Earth Neutrino Detector (SPECIAL BLEND)''. This code estimates the parameters of supernova based on an analytic model of supernova neutrinos from the proto-neutron star cooling phase. For easy availability to the community, this code is public and easily runs on web environments. SPECIAL BLEND can estimate the parameters better than the analysis pipeline we developed in the previous paper. By using SPECIAL BLEND, we can estimate the supernova parameters within $10\%$ precision up to $\sim 20\,{\rm kpc}$ and $\sim 60\,{\rm kpc}$ (Large Magellanic Cloud contained) with Super Kamiokande and Hyper Kamiokande, respectively.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2023

Angular correlation of the two gamma rays produced in the thermal neutron capture on gadolinium-155 and gadolinium-157

The ANNRI-Gd collaboration studied in detail the single $\gamma$-ray spectrum produced from the thermal neutron capture on $^{155}$Gd and $^{157}$Gd in our previous publications. Gadolinium targets were exposed to a neutron beam provided by the Japan Spallation Neutron Source (JSNS) in J-PARC, Japan. In the present analysis, one new additional coaxial germanium crystal was used in the analysis in combination with the fourteen germanium crystals in the cluster detectors to study the angular correlation of the two $\gamma$ rays emitted in the same neutron capture. We present for the first time angular correlation functions for two $\gamma$ rays produced during the electromagnetic cascade transitions in the (n, $\gamma$) reactions on $^{\rm 155}$Gd and $^{\rm 157}$Gd. As expected, we observe the mild angular correlations for the strong, but rare transitions from the resonance state to the two energy levels of known spin-parities. Contrariwise, we observe negligibly small angular correlations for arbitrary pairs of two $\gamma$ rays produced in the majority of cascade transitions from the resonance state to the dense continuum states.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2022

Snowmass Neutrino Frontier Report

This report summarizes the current status of neutrino physics and the broad and exciting future prospects identified for the Neutrino Frontier as part of the 2021 Snowmass Process.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2022

Snowmass 2021 topical group report: Neutrinos from Natural Sources

This is the final report from the Snowmass 2021 Neutrino Frontier Topical Group on Neutrinos from Natural Sources. It covers a broad range of neutrino sources, from low-energy neutrinos from the early universe to ultra high-energy sources. We divide this report by source, and discuss the motivations for pursuing searches in each case, the current state of the field, and the prospects for future theoretical and experimental developments. We consider neutrinos produced in the early universe; solar neutrinos; geoneutrinos; supernova neutrinos, including the diffuse supernova neutrino background (DSNB); neutrinos produced in the atmosphere; and high-energy astrophysical neutrinos.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2022

Observing Supernova Neutrino Light Curves with Super-Kamiokande. III. Extraction of Mass and Radius of Neutron Stars from Synthetic Data

Neutrinos are guaranteed to be observable from the next galactic supernova (SN). Optical light and gravitational waves are also observable, but may be difficult to observe if the location of the SN in the galaxy or the details of the explosion are unsuitable. The key to observing the next supernova is to first use neutrinos to understand various physical quantities and then link them to other signals. In this paper, we present Monte Carlo sampling calculations of neutrino events from galactic supernova explosions observed with Super-Kamiokande. The analytical solution of neutrino emission, which represents the long-term evolution of neutrino-light curve from supernovae, is used as a theoretical template. It gives the event rate and event spectrum through inverse beta decay interactions with explicit model parameter dependence. Parameter estimation is performed on these simulated sample data by fitting least squares using the analytical solution. The results show that the mass, radius and total energy of a remnant neutron star produced by a SN can be determined with an accuracy of $\sim 0.1M_\odot$, $\sim 1$ km, and $\sim 10^{51}$ erg, respectively, for a galactic SN at 8 kpc.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2022

Observing Supernova Neutrino Light Curves with Super-Kamiokande. II. Impact of the Nuclear Equation of State

The late-time evolution of the neutrino event rate from supernovae is evaluated for Super-Kamiokande using simulated results of proto-neutron star (PNS) cooling. In the present work we extend the result of Suwa et al. (2019) [arXiv:1904.09996], which studied the dependence on the PNS mass, but focus on the impact of the nuclear equation of state (EOS). We find that the neutrino event rate depends on both the high-density and low-density EOS, where the former determines the radius of the PNS and the latter affects its surface temperature. Based on the present evaluation of the neutrino event rate we propose a new analysis method to extract the time variability of the neutrino average energy taking into account the statistical error in the observation.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2021

Gravitational Wave Physics and Astronomy in the nascent era

The detections of gravitational waves (GW) by LIGO/Virgo collaborations provide various possibilities to physics and astronomy. We are quite sure that GW observations will develop a lot both in precision and in number owing to the continuous works for the improvement of detectors, including the expectation to the newly joined detector, KAGRA, and the planned detector, LIGO-India. In this occasion, we review the fundamental outcomes and prospects of gravitational wave physics and astronomy. We survey the development focusing on representative sources of gravitational waves: binary black holes, binary neutron stars, and supernovae. We also summarize the role of gravitational wave observations as a probe of new physics.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2020

Developing an end-to-end simulation framework of supernova neutrino detection

Massive stars can explode as supernovae at the end of their life cycle, releasing neutrinos whose total energy reaches $10^{53}$ erg. Moreover, neutrinos play key roles in supernovae, heating and reviving the shock wave as well as cooling the resulting protoneutron star. Therefore, neutrino detectors are waiting to observe the next galactic supernova and several theoretical simulations of supernova neutrinos are underway. While these simulation concentrate mainly on only the first one second after the supernova bounce, the only observation of a supernova with neutrinos, SN 1987A, revealed that neutrino emission lasts for more than 10 seconds. For this reason, long-time simulation and analysis tools are needed to compare theories with the next observation. Our study is to develop an integrated supernova analysis framework to prepare an analysis pipeline for treating galactic supernovae observations in the near future. This framework deals with the core-collapse, bounce and proto-neutron star cooling processes, as well as with neutrino detection on earth in a consistent manner. We have developed a new long-time supernova simulation in one dimension that explodes successfully and computes the neutrino emission for up to 20 seconds. Using this model we estimate the resulting neutrino signal in the Super-Kamiokande detector to be about 1,800 events for an explosion at 10 kpc and discuss its implications in this paper. We compare this result with the SN 1987A observation to test its reliability.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2020

Gamma Ray Spectra from Thermal Neutron Capture on Gadolinium-155 and Natural Gadolinium

Natural gadolinium is widely used for its excellent thermal neutron capture cross section, because of its two major isotopes: $^{\rm 155}$Gd and $^{\rm 157}$Gd. We measured the $γ$-ray spectra produced from the thermal neutron capture on targets comprising a natural gadolinium film and enriched $^{\rm 155}$Gd (in Gd$_{2}$O$_{3}$ powder) in the energy range from 0.11 MeV to 8.0 MeV, using the ANNRI germanium spectrometer at MLF, J-PARC. The freshly analysed data of the $^{\rm 155}$Gd(n, $γ$) reaction are used to improve our previously developed model (ANNRI-Gd model) for the $^{\rm 157}$Gd(n, $γ$) reaction, and its performance confirmed with the independent data from the $^{\rm nat}$Gd(n, $γ$) reaction. This article completes the development of an efficient Monte Carlo model required to simulate and analyse particle interactions involving the thermal neutron captures on gadolinium in any relevant future experiments.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2019

Observing Supernova Neutrino Light Curves with Super-Kamiokande: Expected Event Number over 10 s

Supernova neutrinos are crucially important to probe the final phases of massive star evolution. As is well known from observations of SN1987A, neutrinos provide information on the physical conditions responsible for neutron star formation and on the supernova explosion mechanism. However, there is still no complete understanding of the long-term evolution of neutrino emission in supernova explosions, although there are a number of modern simulations of neutrino radiation hydrodynamics, which study neutrino emission at times less than one second after the bounce. In the present work we systematically calculate the number of neutrinos that can be observed in Super-Kamiokande over periods longer than ten seconds using the database of Nakazato et al. (2013) anticipating that neutrinos from a Galactic supernova can be detected for several tens of seconds. We find that for a supernova at a distance of 10 kpc, neutrinos remain observable for longer than 30 s for a low-mass neutron star ($1.20M_\odot$ gravitational mass) and even longer than 100 s for a high-mass neutron star ($2.05M_\odot$). These scenarios are much longer than the observations of SN1987A and longer than the duration of existing numerical simulations. We propose a new analysis method based on the cumulative neutrino event distribution as a function of reverse time from the last observed event, as a useful probe of the neutron star mass. Our result demonstrates the importance of complete modeling of neutrino light curves in order to extract physical quantities essential for understanding supernova explosion mechanisms, such as the mass and radius of the resulting neutron star.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2018

Gamma Ray Spectrum from Thermal Neutron Capture on Gadolinium-157

We have measured the $γ$-ray energy spectrum from the thermal neutron capture, ${}^{157}$Gd$(n,γ){}^{158}$Gd, on an enriched $^{157}$Gd target (Gd$_{2}$O$_{3}$) in the energy range from 0.11 MeV up to about 8 MeV. The target was placed inside the germanium spectrometer of the ANNRI detector at J-PARC and exposed to a neutron beam from the Japan Spallation Neutron Source (JSNS). Radioactive sources ($^{60}$Co, $^{137}$Cs, and $^{152}$Eu) and the reaction $^{35}$Cl($n$,$γ$) were used to determine the spectrometer's detection efficiency for $γ$ rays at energies from 0.3 to 8.5 MeV. Using a Geant4-based Monte Carlo simulation of the detector and based on our data, we have developed a model to describe the $γ$-ray spectrum from the thermal ${}^{157}$Gd($n$,$γ$) reaction. While we include the strength information of 15 prominent peaks above 5 MeV and associated peaks below 1.6 MeV from our data directly into the model, we rely on the theoretical inputs of nuclear level density and the photon strength function of ${}^{158}$Gd to describe the continuum $γ$-ray spectrum from the ${}^{157}$Gd($n$,$γ$) reaction. Our model combines these two components. The results of the comparison between the observed $γ$-ray spectra from the reaction and the model are reported in detail.

nucl-ex↗