Supernova neutrino detection in Borexino

Abstract We calculated the expected neutrino signal in Borexino from a typical Type II supernova at a distance of 10 kpc. A burst of around 110 events would appear in Borexino within a time interval of about 10 s. Most of these events would come from the reaction channel ν e + p → e + + n , while about 30 events would be induced by the interaction of the supernova neutrino flux on 12C in the liquid scintillator. Borexino can clearly distinguish between the neutral-current excitations 12 C ( ν , ν ′ ) 12 C * (15.11 MeV) and the charged-current reactions 12 C ( ν e , e − ) 12 N and 12 C ( ν e , e + ) 12 B , via their distinctive event signatures. The ratio of the charged-current to neutral-current neutrino event rates and their time profiles with respect to each other can provide a handle on supernova and non-standard neutrino physics (mass and flavor oscillations).