Paleodetectors for neutrino signals from diverse Galactic stellar collapses
Phys. Rev. D 114, 063017 – Published 8 September, 2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/gys2-q6bk
Abstract
The detectability of neutrinos from past Galactic core-collapse supernovae (SNe) is investigated in terms of nuclear recoil tracks in ancient minerals, known as paleodetectors. To account for the diversity of core-collapse outcomes, variations in neutron star (NS) masses as well as failed SNe leading to black hole formation are taken into account. The role of the nuclear equation of state is also considered, as it determines NS radii and maximum masses. The enhancement of sensitivity is quantified for models with larger neutrino emission. This emission reflects the gravitational energy released during core collapse and is larger for more compact remnants in the NS-forming case and for equation of state with larger maximum masses in the black-hole-forming case. Furthermore, motivated by the hypothesis that nearby SN activity may have contributed to the snowball Earth events, the sensitivity to SNe occurring in a burstlike manner is also investigated. The results indicate that burstlike SN activity involving several tens of events at a distance of 10 pc would be within the reach of paleodetectors.
