Studying supernova neutrinos through nuclear structure calculations

Abstract

Differential and integrated cross section calculations are performed in the context of the quasi particle random phase approximation (QRPA) by utilizing realistic two- nucleon forces, for the 64,66 Zn isotopes, contents of the COBRA double beta decay detector. For these isotopes the response to supernova neutrinos is of current inter- est. The response of the 66 Zn isotope to the energy-spectra of supernova neutrinos is also explored by convoluting the original results for the differential cross sections by employing: (i) a two-parameter Fermi-Dirac (FD) and (ii) a Power-Law (PL) neutrino energy distribution. Such folded cross sections are useful in low-energy astrophysical-neutrino detection in underground terrestrial experiments.