A LOW COST DETECTION SYSTEM FOR OBSERVATION OF THE τ μ NEUTRINO TIME PROFILE FROM A GALACTIC SUPERNOVA

摘要

This scheme is based on the Supernova Neutrino Burst Observatory proposed by D B Cline, which utilises natural rock as target, detecting the neutrinos by neutral current nuclear excitation, emitting neutrons detected by counters embedded in the rock. This scheme is sensitive principally to the μ and τ neutrinos, allowing time of flight estimation of their masses if in the cosmologically interesting range 10-S0eV. This paper proposes a new optimised neutron detection scheme giving a factor of at least 30 improvement in efficiency and cost, and capable of recording over 1000 (μ+τ) neutrino events with only 100 tons scinn'llator. Further improvements could be achieved by supplementing the rock with more favourable target elements such as iron or lead. A Galactic supernova signal would be a factor 10-30 above neutron background in typical underground sites. Some comments are included on the detection of extra-Galactic supcrnovac.