Extended search for supernova-like neutrinos in NOvA coincident with LIGO/Virgo detections

TL;DR

This study searches for neutrino signals coincident with gravitational wave events using NOvA data, setting limits on neutrino fluence and supernova distances, and providing the first such constraints for multiple GW events.

Contribution

It introduces a novel search for supernova-like neutrinos coincident with LIGO/Virgo gravitational wave detections using NOvA data, establishing new limits on neutrino fluence and supernova distances.

Findings

Set upper limits on neutrino fluence for 40 GW events.

Derived minimum supernova distances of 29-50 kpc based on non-detections.

Provided constraints on supernova models with different progenitor masses.

Abstract

A search is performed for supernova-like neutrino interactions coincident with 76 gravitational wave events detected by the LIGO/Virgo Collaboration. For 40 of these events, full readout of the time around the gravitational wave is available from the NOvA Far Detector. For these events, we set limits on the fluence of the sum of all neutrino flavors of $F < 7(4)\times 10^{10}\mathrm{cm}^{-2}$ at 90% C.L. assuming energy and time distributions corresponding to the Garching supernova models with masses 9.6(27)$\mathrm{M}_\odot$. Under the hypothesis that any given gravitational wave event was caused by a supernova, this corresponds to a distance of $r > 29(50)$kpc at 90% C.L. Weaker limits are set for other gravitational wave events with partial Far Detector data and/or Near Detector data.