An "archaeological" quest for galactic supernova neutrinos

TL;DR

This paper investigates detecting past galactic supernova neutrinos by measuring Technetium 97 in Molybdenum ore, combining recent neutrino physics advances with geochemical methods to potentially observe historical supernova events.

Contribution

It proposes a novel geochemical approach to detect relic supernova neutrinos using Technetium 97 measurements, incorporating updated neutrino interaction models and supernova physics.

Findings

Predicted Technetium 97 abundance is near current detection sensitivity.

Supernova neutrinos contribute 10-20% of the Technetium 97.

Uncertainties require improved modeling for definitive detection.

Abstract

We explore the possibility to observe the effects of electron neutrinos from past galactic supernovae, through a geochemical measurement of the amount of Technetium 97 produced by neutrino-induced reactions in a Molybdenum ore. The calculations we present take into account the recent advances in our knowledge of neutrino interactions, of neutrino oscillations inside a supernova, of the solar neutrino flux at Earth and of possible failed supernovae. The predicted Technetium 97 abundance is of the order of 10^7 atoms per 10 kilotons of ore, which is close to the current geochemical experimental sensitivity. Of this, 10-20% is from supernovae. Considering the comparable size of uncertainties, more precision in the modeling of neutrino fluxes as well as of neutrino cross sections is required for a meaningful measurement.