Supernova Neutrinos, SN1987A, and the HALO / HALO-1kT detectors

Speaker

Stanley Yen, UBC

Abstract

The life of a massive star ends with the gravitational collapse of the iron core and the subsequent explosion of the star as a supernova.  Already a spectacular object in optical telescope, 99% of the energy is emitted in the form of neutrinos.  Neutrinos give a prompt picture of the nuclear and particle processes in the bowels of the exploding star, unlike the optical radiation which is emitted hours after the core collapse.  I will discuss a mystery of the neutrino signal from supernova 1987A, and the role of the HALO and HALO-1kT detectors in observing the neutrinos from the next galactic supernova.