Neutrino observatory based on archaeological lead

We propose the RES-NOVA project, which will hunt neutrinos from core-collapse supernovae (SN) via coherent elastic neutrino-nucleus scattering (CEνNS) using an array of archaeological lead (Pb) based cryogenic detectors. The high CEνNS cross section on Pb and the ultrahigh radiopurity of archaeological Pb enable the operation of a high statistics experiment equally sensitive to all neutrino flavors with reduced detector dimensions in comparison with existing neutrino observatories and easy scalability to larger detector volumes. RES-NOVA is planned to operate according to three phases with increasing detector volumes: (60 cm)3, (140 cm)3, and ultimately 15×(140 cm)3. It will be sensitive to SN bursts up to Andromeda with 5σ sensitivity with already existing technologies and will have excellent energy resolution with a 1 keV threshold. Within our Galaxy, it will be possible to discriminate core-collapse SN from black-hole-forming collapses with no ambiguity even in the first phase of RES-NOVA. The average neutrino energy of all flavors, the SN neutrino light curve, and the total energy emitted in neutrinos can potentially be constrained with a precision of a few percent in the final detector phase. RES-NOVA will be sensitive to flavor-blind neutrinos from the diffuse SN neutrino background with an exposure of 620 ton·y. The proposed RES-NOVA project has the potential to lay down the foundations for a new generation of neutrino telescopes while relying on a very simple technological setup.