Old Data, New Forensics: The First Second of SN 1987A Neutrino Emission

TL;DR

This paper compares modern supernova neutrino emission models with SN 1987A data, revealing general model agreement but discrepancies with observed neutrino counts, highlighting the need for further research.

Contribution

It provides the first detailed comparison of nearly all recent supernova models to SN 1987A neutrino data over the first second of emission.

Findings

Models generally agree with each other.

Models disagree with SN 1987A data.

Neutrino oscillations and progenitor mass differences are insufficient explanations.

Abstract

The next Milky Way supernova will be an epochal event in multi-messenger astronomy, critical to tests of supernovae, neutrinos, and new physics. Realizing this potential depends on having realistic simulations of core collapse. We investigate the neutrino predictions of nearly all modern models (1-, 2-, and 3-d) over the first $\simeq$1 s, making the first detailed comparisons of these models to each other and to the SN 1987A neutrino data. Even with different methods and inputs, the models generally agree with each other. However, even considering the low neutrino counts, the models generally disagree with data. What can cause this? We show that neither neutrino oscillations nor different progenitor masses appear to be a sufficient solution. We outline urgently needed work.