Triangle Nuclear Theory Colloquium - Astrophysical Neutrinos Uncover Neutrino Properties and Decode New Physics

Neutrinos are the most intriguing particles whose masses point to the existence of new physics. They rarely interact; therefore, they can directly probe the most extreme environments and provide insights beyond those that photons or charged particles carry. Core-collapse supernovae are one of the most complex phenomena in the Universe. Not only are they one of the production sites of the heavy elements, but their cores are also one of the densest environments we can probe. Core-collapse supernovae are also among the most spectacular and efficient neutrino factories. Detecting these neutrinos can allow us to probe physics in extreme conditions inaccessible on Earth. In this talk, I will discuss how we can prepare for the next nearby supernova neutrino detection to extract as much information as possible from the neutrino signal. I will also talk about how observing neutrinos from all the past supernovae in our Universe - the diffuse supernova neutrino background - can help us better understand the supernova population and potentially may provide hints about physics beyond the Standard Model.