Supernova Early Warning in Daya Bay Reactor Neutrino Experiment

Abstract

Providing an early warning of a galactic supernova using neutrino signals is of importance in studying both supernova dynamics and neutrino physics. The Daya Bay reactor neutrino experiment, with a unique feature of multiple liquid scintillator detectors separated in space, is sensitive to the full energy spectrum of supernova burst electron-antineutrinos. By deploying 8 Antineutrino Detectors (ADs) in three different experimental halls, we obtain a more powerful and prompt rejection of muon spallation background than single-detector experiments. A dedicated supernova online trigger system embedded in the data acquisition system has been installed to allow the detection of a coincidence of neutrino signals within a 10-second window, thus providing a robust early warning of a supernova occurrence within the Milky Way.