Detection of Supernova Neutrinos

Prospects for the future detection of supernova neutrinos are considered, with primary emphasis on water Cherenkov detectors. In particular, for the last seven years R&D on a potential upgrade to the Super-Kamiokande detector has been underway. Enriching Super-K with 100,000 kilograms of a water-soluble gadolinium compound - thereby enabling it to detect thermal neutrons and dramatically improving its performance, particularly as a detector for supernova neutrinos and reactor neutrinos - is discussed, as are some of the studies both ongoing and planned to help make this ambitious proposal a reality, including the construction of a large-scale, dedicated gadolinium testing facility in the Kamioka mine.