First Associated Neutrino Search for a Failed Supernova Candidate with Super-Kamiokande

Journal article

In 2024, a failed supernova (SN) candidate, M31-2014-DS1, was reported in the Andromeda galaxy (M31), located at a distance of approximately 770 kpc. In this Letter, we search for neutrinos from this failed SN using data from Super-Kamiokande (SK). Based on the estimated time of black hole formation inferred from optical and infrared observations, we define a search window for neutrino events in the SK data. Using this window, we develop a dedicated analysis method for failed SNe and apply it to M31-2014-DS1, by conducting a cluster search using the timing and energy information of candidate events. No significant neutrino excess is observed within the search region. Consequently, we place an upper limit on the time-integrated electron antineutrino luminosity from M31-2014-DS1 and discuss its implications for various failed SN models and their neutrino emission characteristics. Despite the 18 MeV threshold adopted to suppress backgrounds, the search remains sufficiently sensitive to constrain the Shen-TM1 equation of state, in a more optimistic emission scenario with progenitor stars of 40 M⊙ and relatively high mean electron-antineutrino energies of about 23.2 MeV, yielding a 90% confidence level upper limit of 1.76 × 1053 erg on the time-integrated electron antineutrino luminosity, moderately above the expected value of 1.35 × 1053 erg.

Authors: Nakanishi, F; Abe, K; Abe, S; Asaoka, Y; Harada, M

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: American Astronomical Society
• Journal: The Astrophysical Journal Letters
• Volume: 997
• Issue: 1
• Article number: L9
• Publication date: 2026-01-13
• Acceptance date: 2025-12-12
• DOI: 10.3847/2041-8213/ae2c73
• EISSN: 2041-8213
• ISSN: 2041-8205
• Language: English
• Keywords: Neutrino astronomy; Andromeda Galaxy; Core-collapse supernovae; Gravitational collapse