Supernova 1987a was a core-collapse supernova that exploded in the Large Magella

Question

Supernova 1987a was a core-collapse supernova that exploded in the Large Magellanic Cloud in 1987. Among the confirmations of SN theory coming from observations of SN1987a was the detection of neutrinos temporally coincident with the SN explosion. According to theory, approximately 1058 neutrinos were generated in the SN1987a explosion and radiated outward from the star approximately isotropically. 12 of these neutrinos were detected by the SuperKamiokande water-Cerenkov neutrino detector. Look up any details you need about the SuperKamiokande detector (size, geometry, etc) or Large Magellanic Cloud (e.g., its distance from Earth). a) Considering that the neutrinos were emitted isotropically (ie, evenly in all directions), how many neutrinos passed through (not how many were detected, but how many passed through altogether) the SuperK detector due to the explosion? b) Use the optical depth equation I/Io = e-ks to determine the approximate opacity (k) of neutrinos to water. Justify any assumptions or approximations you make about the geometry of SuperK. c) Recall that mean-free-path (l) describes the average distance a photon (or in this neutrino) would travel before interacting with a particle, l = 1/(k). Calculate the mean-free-path of a neutrino in lead.

Explanation / Answer

SuperKamiokande- Super kamioka neutrino detection experiment is located in the city of Hida.It is mainly used for the detection of supernovae in the Milky way galaxy.

a)The detection of neutrinos emission allowed the experimenters to say that the sun is the source of neutrinos.Superkamiokande was developed at a very high cost of nearly 100 dollars.But the main disadvantage is that it did not achieve its primary goal of proton decay.For a supernova all the energy produced is usually in the form of neutrinos.Neutrinos are passing unimaginably every time around us and are very difficult to detect.Researchers mostly use particle accelerators for the purpose of producing dense beam of particles.Approximately 2eV energy neutrinos would be emitted.

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