Correlation analysis of gravitational waves and neutrino signals to constrain neutrino flavor conversion in core-collapse supernova

TL;DR

This paper introduces a correlation-based method to constrain neutrino flavor conversion in core-collapse supernovae using gravitational wave and neutrino data, even with low detection significance, aiding multi-messenger astrophysics.

Contribution

It proposes a novel correlation analysis approach to constrain neutrino flavor conversion using multi-messenger signals from supernovae, applicable even with weak or no GW detection.

Findings

Method can be applied with low GW detection significance

Provides a framework to combine GW and neutrino data

Highlights importance of reducing CCSN model uncertainties

Abstract

Recent multi-dimensional (multi-D) core-collapse supernova (CCSN) simulations characterize gravitational waves (GWs) and neutrino signals, offering insight into universal properties of CCSN independent of progenitor. Neutrino analysis in real observations, however, will be complicated due to the ambiguity of self-induced neutrino flavor conversion (NFC), which poses an obstacle to extracting detailed physical information. In this paper, we propose a novel approach to place a constraint on NFC from observed quantities of GWs and neutrinos based on correlation analysis from recent, detailed multi-D CCSN simulations. The proposed method can be used even in cases with low significance - or no detection of GWs. We also discuss how we can utilize electro-magnetic observations to complement the proposed method. Although our proposed method has uncertainties associated with CCSN modeling, the present result will serve as a base for more detailed studies. Reducing the systematic errors involved in CCSN models is a key to success in this multi-messenger analysis that needs to be done in collaboration with different theoretical groups.