Diffuse neutrino flux from failed supernovae

TL;DR

This paper investigates the high-energy electron antineutrino flux from failed supernovae, suggesting it could significantly impact the total diffuse neutrino background and be detectable by current and future neutrino observatories.

Contribution

It introduces the concept that failed supernovae produce a more energetic neutrino flux than successful ones, potentially dominating the diffuse flux at high energies.

Findings

Failed supernovae produce a higher-energy neutrino flux.

The flux could be detectable by SuperKamiokande.

Failed supernovae may dominate the diffuse flux above 30-45 MeV.

Abstract

I study the diffuse flux of electron antineutrinos from stellar collapses with direct black hole formation (failed supernovae). This flux is more energetic than that from successful supernovae, and therefore it might contribute substantially to the total diffuse flux above realistic detection thresholds. The total flux might be considerably higher than previously thought, and approach the sensitivity of SuperKamiokande. For more conservative values of the parameters, the flux from failed supernovae dominates for antineutrino energies above 30-45 MeV, with potential to give an observable spectral distortion at Megaton detectors.