RES-NOVA: A new neutrino observatory based on archaeological lead

Abstract

We propose the RES-NOVA project which will hunt neutrinos from core-collapse supernovae (SN) via coherent elastic neutrino-nucleus scattering (CE$\nu$NS) using an array of archaeological lead (Pb) based cryogenic detectors. The high CE$\nu$NS cross-section on Pb and the ultra-high radiopurity of archaeological Pb enable the operation of a high statistics experiment equally sensitive to all neutrino flavors with reduced detector dimensions in comparison with existing Neutrino Observatories, and easy scalability to larger detector volumes. RES-NOVA is planned to operate according to three phases with increasing detector volumes: (60 cm)${}^3$, (140 cm)${}^3$, and ultimately 15$\times$(140 cm)${}^3$. It will be sensitive to SN bursts up to Andromeda with 5$\sigma$ sensitivity with already existing technologies and will have excellent energy resolution with $1$ keV threshold. Within our Galaxy, it will be possible to discriminate core-collapse SNe from black hole forming collapses with no ambiguity even in the first phase of RES-NOVA. The average neutrino energy of all flavors, the SN neutrino light curve, and the total energy emitted in neutrinos can potentially be constrained with a precision of few $\%$ in the final detector phase. RES-NOVA will be sensitive to flavor-blind neutrinos from the diffuse SN neutrino background with an exposure of $620$ ton $\cdot$ y. The proposed RES-NOVA project has the potential to lay down the foundations for a new generation of neutrino telescopes, while relying on a very simple technological setup