Testing Lorentz invariance with neutrino bursts from supernova neutronization

TL;DR

This paper proposes using neutrino bursts from supernovae to test for Lorentz invariance violation, potentially constraining quantum gravity effects at very high energy scales through observed neutrino timing deviations.

Contribution

It introduces a method to constrain Lorentz invariance violation using supernova neutrino signals, providing sensitivity to quantum gravity scales with current detector technology.

Findings

Detection sensitivity to Lorentz violation at $10^{12}$ GeV for linear dependence.

Detection sensitivity to $2 imes 10^{5}$ GeV for quadratic dependence.

Limits are robust against neutrino mass hierarchy and superluminal or subluminal velocities.

Abstract

Quantum-gravity (QG) effects might generate Lorentz invariance violation by the interaction of energetic particles with the foamy structure of the space-time. As a consequence, particles may not travel at the universal speed of light. We propose to constrain Lorentz invariance violation for energetic neutrinos exploiting the $\nu_e$ neutronization burst from the next galactic supernova (SN). This prompt signal is expected to produce a sharp peak in the SN $\nu_e$ light curve with a duration of $\sim 25$ ms. However presence of energy-dependent Lorentz invariance violation would significantly spread out the time structure of this signal. We find that the detection the SN $\nu_e$ burst from a typical galactic explosion at $d=10$ kpc in a Mton-class water Cerenkov detector, would be sensitive to a quantum-gravity mass scale $M_{\rm QG} \sim 10^{12}$ GeV ($2 \times10^{5}$ GeV) for the linear (quadratic) energy dependence of Lorentz invariance violation. These limits are rather independent of the neutrino mass hierarchy and whether the neutrino velocity is super or subluminal.