Universe, Volume 12, Issue 9 (September 2026)
Cover Story : This study evaluates the sensitivity of the proposed ESSnuSB far detector—a 538 kt water Cherenkov detector in Sweden—to supernova neutrinos. While optimized for leptonic CP violation, its massive volume provides excellent potential for detecting core-collapse supernova bursts. We simulate expected inverse beta decay event rates across three prominent supernova flux models (Livermore, GVKM, and Garching) and evaluate the detector’s ability to differentiate between them. Factoring in systematic errors, detector efficiencies, and energy resolution, the results demonstrate that the ESSnuSB far detector can successfully discriminate between distinct flux models for a Galactic or near-Galactic supernova, offering a vital tool for advancing neutrino physics and core-collapse astrophysics.
ESSnuSB Input to the European Strategy for Particle Physics (ESPP) - 2026 update
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was organised by Collaboration members and held on 29 June- 11 July 2025 at the Faculty of Physics and Engineering of the University of Strasbourg, France.
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ESSnuSB+ Flyer
The ESSnuSB Conceptual Design Report is now published by
The European Physical Journal Special Topics
The new proposal, ESSnuSB+, submitted to the EU in April 2022, was approved in July 2022.
Objectives and Ambitions of the new project :
After the production of all deliverables and the publication of the ESSνSB CDR, this is now accomplished. The present Design Study is proposed to pave the way of ESSνSB by introducing complementary studies and enlarging its scope by introducing investigations of synergetic projects.
The ESSνSB+ strategic objectives are:
1) Make all necessary civil engineering and geotechnical studies needed for the facility implementation of the ESSνSB/ESSνSB+ technical facilities at the ESS site and at the far detector side.
2) Study the implementation of a special target station for pion production and extraction for injection to a Low Energy nuSTORM decay ring and Low Energy Monitored Neutrino Beam decay tunnel.
3) Study the Low Energy nuSTORM decay ring and the injection of pions and muons coming from the special target station.
4) Study the Low Energy Monitored Neutrino Beam instrumented decay tunnel and the injection of pions coming from the special target station.
5) Study the design of a common detector for the Low Energy nuSTORM and for the Low Energy Monitored Neutrino Beam sub-projects for measurement of the neutrino cross-sections of interest.
6) Investigate the possibility of the utilisation of the Low Energy nuSTORM with its near detector and the ESSνSB near detector, already designed, for sterile neutrino searches.
7) Carry out studies of the geotechnical characteristics of the currently preferred site at Zinkgruvan for the underground ESSνSB far detector and study its potential for astroparticle physics programme.
8) Promote the ESSνSB/ESSνSB+ projects to their stakeholders, including scientists, politicians, funders, industrialists and the general public in order to have it included in the ESFRI list, which will allow to carry out extensive R&D work leading to a Technical Design Report for the whole facility.
