We propose the RES-NOVA project, which will hunt neutrinos from core-collapse supernovae (SN) via coherent elastic neutrino-nucleus scattering ($\mathrm{CE}\nu \mathrm{NS}$) using an array of archaeological lead (Pb) based cryogenic detectors. The high $\mathrm{CE}\nu \mathrm{NS}$ 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: $(60\mathrm{cm}{)}^3$, $(140\mathrm{cm}{)}^3$, and ultimately $15\times (140\mathrm{cm}{)}^3$. It will be sensitive to SN bursts up to Andromeda with $5\sigma$ 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 $620\mathrm{ton}·\mathrm{y}$. 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.

• Received 17 April 2020
• Revised 5 July 2020
• Accepted 5 August 2020

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.102.063001