Observing the Next Galactic Supernova with the NOvA Detectors

Understand

The next galactic core-collapse supernova will deliver a wealth of neutrinos which for the first time we are well-situated to measure.

• These explosions produce neutrinos with energies between 10 and 100 MeV over a period of tens of seconds.
• Galactic supernovae are relatively rare events, occurring with a frequency of just a few per century.
• It is therefore essential that all neutrino detectors capable of detecting these neutrinos are ready to trigger on this signal when it occurs.