Observing Supernova Neutrino Light Curves with Super-Kamiokande. V. Distance Estimation with Neutrinos

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that neutrino observations from supernovae can be used to estimate their distances with about 15% accuracy, enhancing multi-messenger astronomy and enabling better understanding of neutron star physics.

Contribution

It introduces a novel method to estimate supernova distances using neutrinos and neutron star radius measurements, improving localization and multi-messenger follow-up capabilities.

Findings

Neutrinos can be used to estimate supernova distances within 15% uncertainty.

Neutrino observations can determine supernova directions for 3D localization.

Combining neutrino data with optical follow-up enhances neutron star physics insights.

Abstract

Neutrinos are pivotal signals in multi-messenger observations of supernovae (SNe). Recent advancements in the analysis method of supernova (SN) neutrinos, especially in quantitative analysis, have significantly broadened scientific possibilities. This study demonstrates the feasibility of estimating distances to SNe using neutrinos. This estimation utilizes the direct relationship between the radius of a neutron star (NS) and the distance to the SN, which is analogous to main-sequence fitting. The radius of an NS is determined with an approximate uncertainty of 10% through observations such as X-rays and gravitational waves. By integrating this information, the distance to the SN can be estimated with an uncertainty of within 15% at a 95% confidence level. It has been established that neutrinos can pinpoint the direction of SNe, and when combined with distance estimates, three-dimensional localization becomes achievable. This capability is vital for follow-up observations using multi-messenger approaches. Moreover, more precise distance determinations to SNe through follow-up observations, such as optical observations, allow for accurate measurements of NS radii. This data, via the NS mass-radius relationship, could provide various insights into nuclear physics.