Comments on Betelgeuse explosion in 2012

 

In a series of conference presentations [1-2] and articles [3-8] we have shown capabilities of the giant neutrino detectors to receive neutrino signal before supernova at distance of 1 kpc (3260 light years ). Depending on type of the star, and detection channel (neutrino or antineutrino), few hour or even 2 day warning could be issued.

For Betelgeuse, which is 10 times closer , the neutrino signal is expected to be hundred fold stronger . In near future, the new generation of giant neutrino detectors will be able to monitor pre-supernova Betelgeuse for weeks before core-collapse. Some of the mentioned neutrino detectors are under construction now. One example is provided by so-called far detector required for the Long Baseline Neutrino Experiment in the USA.

Supernova Betelgeuse is in fact beyond scope of our interest due to negligible probability of explosion during next 100 years. Conditional probability is a different thing. IF it is about to explode in 2012, we should know it few weeks before.

Dr M. Misiaszek, Neutrino Physicists, expert in low background neutrino detectors
Dr A. Odrzywolek, Supernova Astrophysicist, expert in pre-supernova neutrinos
Jagiellonian University, Cracov, Poland

Some references:

  1. http://sn1987a-20th.physics.uci.edu/1630-Odrzywolek.pdf
  2. http://cdsagenda5.ictp.it//askArchive.php?categ=a08170&id=a08170s13t24&ifd=30658&down=1&type=lecture_notes
  3. A. Odrzywolek and A. Heger, Neutrino signatures of dying massive stars: From main sequence to the neutron star, Acta Physica Polonica B Vol. 41, No. 7, July 2010, page 1611.
  4. A. Odrzywolek, M. Misiaszek, M. Kutschera, Detection possibility of the pair-annihilation neutrinos from the neutrino-cooled pre-supernova star, Astroparticle Physics, 21 303-313, June 2004.
  5. M. Kutschera, A. Odrzywolek, M. Misiaszek, Presupernovae as Powerful Neutrino Sources Acta Physica Polonica B, Vol. 40, No. 11, November 2009, page 3063.
  6. A. Odrzywolek, M. Misiaszek and M. Kutschera, Future neutrino observations of nearby pre-supernova stars before core-collapse , In: J. R.Wilkes, editor, Next Generation Nucleon Decay and Neutrino Detectors NNN06, Volume 944 of American Institute of Physics Conference Series, pages 109-118, November 2007.
  7. A. Odrzywolek, M. Misiaszek, M. Kutschera, Neutrinos from Pre-Supernova Star, Acta Phys. Pol. B, 35 1981, June 2004