ANALYSIS OF SOLAR NEUTRINO FLUX FROM THE EXISTING SOLAR NEUTRINO DETECTORS

Abstract

It is suggested that the experimental data on the solar neutrino flux as measured in the existing solar neutrino detectors (e.g. Homestake, Kamiokande II and III, Gallex and Sage) vary with the solar activity cycle to a very high level of statistical significance. We have applied the run test and the change point test to the nine sets of solar neutrino flux that have been generated by the Monte-Carlo simulation with production rate and background parameters that are typical of those in the actual Homestake experiment. Homestake solar neutrino flux data show anticorrelation with sunspot numbers from 1970 to February 1994 at a very high level of statistical significance. However, the Kamiokande solar neutrino flux data show correlation with the sunspot number data at a significant level. Again it is shown that out of nine Monte-Carlo-simulated data only three indicate a variation within the period from 1970 to February 1992, but these three Monte-Carlo-simulated solar neutrino flux data do not show significant anticorrelation with the sunspot number data. The solar neutrino flux data from Gallex and Sage show not only variation within the measurement period, i.e. from January 1990 to October 1995, but are also correlated with the sunspot numbers. The Kamiokande solar neutrino flux data not only show variation from January 1987 to February 1995 but are also correlated with the sunspot number data. The variation of solar neutrino flux data within the solar activity cycle and anticorrelation/correlation indicates that the solar activity cycle is due to the pulsating character of the nuclear energy generation inside the core of the sun.