Detection horizon for the neutrino burst from the stellar helium flash
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| Format: | Preprint |
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2026
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| _version_ | 1866909054701404160 |
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| author | Martínez-Miravé, Pablo Tamborra, Irene Raffelt, Georg |
| author_facet | Martínez-Miravé, Pablo Tamborra, Irene Raffelt, Georg |
| contents | Low-mass stars ($M\lesssim 2\,M_\odot$) ignite helium under degenerate conditions, eventually causing a nuclear run-away -- the helium flash. The alpha-capture process on $^{14}$N produces a large amount of $^{18}$F, whose subsequent decay spawns an intense $ν_e$ burst (with average energy of $0.38$ MeV) lasting about a day. We show that, in addition, a strong $1.7$ MeV neutrino line is generated by electron capture on $^{18}$F. Detection is hindered by large backgrounds in state-of-the-art neutrino observatories, such as JUNO. In next-generation facilities, such as the Jinping neutrino experiment, the horizon for a detection with a local significance of $3 σ$ would be extended to almost $3$ pc. Although helium flashes occur a few times per year in our Galaxy, there are no stellar candidates approaching the tip of the red giant branch within $10$ pc. Hence, to date, asteroseismology remains the most promising tool for probing the most energetic thermonuclear event in the life of a low-mass star. |
| format | Preprint |
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arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2602_15119 |
| institution | arXiv |
| publishDate | 2026 |
| record_format | arxiv |
| spellingShingle | Detection horizon for the neutrino burst from the stellar helium flash Martínez-Miravé, Pablo Tamborra, Irene Raffelt, Georg Solar and Stellar Astrophysics High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena High Energy Physics - Experiment High Energy Physics - Phenomenology Low-mass stars ($M\lesssim 2\,M_\odot$) ignite helium under degenerate conditions, eventually causing a nuclear run-away -- the helium flash. The alpha-capture process on $^{14}$N produces a large amount of $^{18}$F, whose subsequent decay spawns an intense $ν_e$ burst (with average energy of $0.38$ MeV) lasting about a day. We show that, in addition, a strong $1.7$ MeV neutrino line is generated by electron capture on $^{18}$F. Detection is hindered by large backgrounds in state-of-the-art neutrino observatories, such as JUNO. In next-generation facilities, such as the Jinping neutrino experiment, the horizon for a detection with a local significance of $3 σ$ would be extended to almost $3$ pc. Although helium flashes occur a few times per year in our Galaxy, there are no stellar candidates approaching the tip of the red giant branch within $10$ pc. Hence, to date, asteroseismology remains the most promising tool for probing the most energetic thermonuclear event in the life of a low-mass star. |
| title | Detection horizon for the neutrino burst from the stellar helium flash |
| topic | Solar and Stellar Astrophysics High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena High Energy Physics - Experiment High Energy Physics - Phenomenology |
| url | https://arxiv.org/abs/2602.15119 |