Response of an underwater Cherenkov detector to supernova neutrinos -: art. no. 035801

We present a complete Monte Carlo simulation of the response of a realistic model of a deep-underwater Cherenkov detector to supernova neutrinos. The various sources of noise are discussed in detail and a statistical treatment of the data is proposed based upon integration on a properly chosen time interval. The results show that the neutrino flux emitted by a supernova exploding in our galaxy can be detected from such a telescope. The possibility of retrieving information on the supernova direction from the asymmetry in the emitted Cherenkov light has been considered, showing that this approach does not allow an accurate localization of the nu source.