A search for neutrinos from gravitational collapse with the MACRO experiment

Citation

Scholberg, Kate (1997) A search for neutrinos from gravitational collapse with the MACRO experiment. Dissertation (Ph.D.), California Institute of Technology. doi:10.7907/NTDF-3V84. https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechETD:etd-06122008-082601

Abstract

The MACRO experiment, an underground scintillator/streamer tube array at the Gran Sasso Laboratory in Italy, is capable of detecting a burst of neutrinos from a stellar gravitational collapse using its 560 tons of liquid scintillator. The detector is sensitive to a collapse event in or nearby our galaxy. Two redundant circuits trigger on GC neutrino-like events. This thesis will describe a search for a gravitational collapse burst with MACRO over a time period starting July 24, 1995 and ending February 8, 1996, using both trigger systems. No candidate bursts were observed over this time.

Since neutrinos emerge from a collapsing star promptly after core collapse whereas electromagnetic radiation can follow hours or days later, the MACRO detector can provide an early warning to optical astronomers that a supernova event may appear. MACRO's redundant online supernova watch systems will also be described.

Thesis Files