Neutrino signals from the formation of a black hole: A probe of the equation of state of dense matter

Phys Rev Lett. 2006 Sep 1;97(9):091101. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.97.091101. Epub 2006 Aug 30.

Abstract

The gravitational collapse of a nonrotating, black-hole-forming massive star is studied by nu-radiation-hydrodynamical simulations for two different sets of realistic equation of state of dense matter. We show that the event will produce as many neutrinos as the ordinary supernova, but with distinctive characteristics in luminosities and spectra that will be an unmistakable indication of black hole formation. More importantly, the neutrino signals are quite sensitive to the difference of equation of state and can be used as a useful probe into the properties of dense matter. The event will be unique in that they will be shining only by neutrinos (and, possibly, gravitational waves) but not by photons, and hence they should be an important target of neutrino astronomy.