Introduction to neutrino astronomy

TL;DR

This paper provides an accessible introduction to neutrino astronomy, covering neutrino types, detection methods, key astrophysical sources, and recent research developments, aimed at astronomers and beginners in the field.

Contribution

It offers a comprehensive, beginner-friendly overview of neutrino astronomy, integrating particle physics concepts with astrophysical observations and recent advances.

Findings

Detection of solar neutrinos and their study

Insights from supernova neutrino observations

Emerging research on high-energy neutrinos

Abstract

This writeup is an introduction to neutrino astronomy, addressed to astronomers and written by astroparticle physicists. While the focus is on achievements and goals in neutrino astronomy, rather than on the aspects connected to particle physics, we will introduce the particle physics concepts needed to appreciate those aspects that depend on the peculiarity of the neutrinos. The detailed layout is as follows: In Sect.~1, we introduce the neutrinos, examine their interactions, and present neutrino detectors and telescopes. In Sect.~2, we discuss solar neutrinos, that have been detected and are matter of intense (theoretical and experimental) studies. In Sect.~3, we focus on supernova neutrinos, that inform us on a very dramatic astrophysical event and can tell us a lot on the phenomenon of gravitational collapse. In Sect.~4, we discuss the highest energy neutrinos, a very recent and lively research field. In Sect.~5, we review the phenomenon of neutrino oscillations and assess its relevance for neutrino astronomy. Finally, we offer a brief overall assessment and a summary in Sect.~6. The material is selected - i.e., not all achievements are reviewed - and furthermore it is kept to an introductory level, but efforts are made to highlight current research issues. In order to help the beginner, we prefer to limit the list of references, opting whenever possible for review works and books.