Supernova Preshock Neutronization Burst as a Probe of Non-Standard Neutrino Interactions

TL;DR

The paper explores how non-standard neutrino interactions influence the preshock neutrino burst in supernovae, suggesting that detecting this burst can reveal new physics beyond the standard model.

Contribution

It demonstrates, through simulations, that NSI can significantly enhance the preshock neutrino burst luminosity, providing a novel method to probe beyond-standard-model neutrino physics.

Findings

NSI can increase the preshock burst luminosity by up to a factor of three.

Detection of the preshock burst can reveal properties of non-standard neutrino interactions.

The preshock burst peak can reach luminosities comparable to the shock-breakout burst.

Abstract

Core-collapse supernova (CCSN) provides a unique astrophysical site for studying neutrino-matter interactions. Prior to the shock-breakout neutrino burst during the collapse of the iron core, a preshock $\nu_e$ burst arises from the electron capture of nuclei and it is sensitive to the low-energy coherent elastic neutrino-nucleus scattering (CE$\nu$NS) which dominates the neutrino opacity. Since the CE$\nu$NS depends strongly on the non-standard neutrino interactions (NSI) which are completely beyond the standard model and yet to be determined, the detection of the preshock burst thus provides a clean way to extract the NSI information. Within the spherically symmetric general-relativistic hydrodynamic simulation for the CCSN, we investigate the NSI effects on the preshock burst. We find that the NSI can maximally enhance the peak luminosity of the preshock burst almost by a factor of three, reaching a value comparable with that of the shock-breakout burst. Future detection of the preshock burst will have critical implications on astrophysics, neutrino physics and physics beyond the standard model.