Speaker
Description
The Diffuse Supernova Neutrino Background (DSNB) has the potential to serve as an informative background radiation source, similar to the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB). If measured, it can offer valuable insights to cosmologists on the history and evolution of our universe. The DSNB is the integrated flux of neutrinos from all past core-collapse supernovae; these events release 99% of the energy in the form of neutrinos. The DSNB flux and spectral shape can provide information on the cosmic core-collapse supernova rate, the fraction of failed (black hole-forming) supernovae, and the average neutrino emission spectrum from supernova explosions. The Jiangmen Underground Neutrino Observatory (JUNO) is the largest liquid scintillator neutrino detector ever constructed, with a 20 kt target mass, which is about 20 times larger than KamLAND, the next largest detector by target mass. JUNO combines excellent energy resolution with high neutron tagging efficiency, enabling efficient detection of Inverse Beta Decay (IBD) events from DSNB antineutrinos. Furthermore, liquid scintillator detectors provide powerful Particle Identification (PID) through scintillation pulse shape discrimination, allowing strong suppression of atmospheric neutral-current backgrounds. These features make JUNO highly competitive for a first observation of the DSNB. In combination with the Gadolinium-doped water-Cherenkov detector Super-Kamiokande (SK-Gd), which has different detector systematics and background sensitivities, JUNO strengthens the global discovery potential through complementary approaches. In this poster, we present JUNO’s projected sensitivity to the DSNB and the latest progress toward its observation.