GADZOOKS! How to See the Diffuse Supernova Neutrino Background... Soon!

摘要

Water Cherenkov detectors have been used for many years to study neutrino interactions and search for nucleon decays. Super-Kamiokancle [Super-K, SK], at 50 kilotons the largest such underground detector in the world,has enjoyed over ten years of interesting and important physics results. Looking to the future, for the last six years R&D on a potential upgrade to the detector has been underway. Enriching Super -K with 100,000 kilograms of a water-soluble gadolinium compound thereby enabling it to detect thermal neutrons and dramatically improving its performance, particularly as a detector for supernova neutrinos and reactor neutrinos-is discussed, as are some of the studies both ongoing and planned to help make this ambitious proposal a reality.