Measurement of the solar neutrino capture rate in Sage

Abstract

Combined analysis of the data of 92 runs of SAGE during the 12-year period January 1990 through December 2001 gives a capture rate of solar neutrinos with energy more than 233 keV of 70.9 −5.2 +5.3 (stat.) −3.2 +3.7 (syst.) SNU. This represents only 55% of the predicted standard solar model rate of ∼130 SNU. The results of individual runs as well as the results of combined analysis of all runs during yearly, monthly, and bimonthly periods are presented. No compelling evidence for temporal variations is observed. By an analysis of the SAGE results combined with those from all other solar neutrino experiments, we make the first estimate of the electron neutrino pp flux that reaches the Earth to be (4.6 ± 1.2) x 10 10/(cm 2 s). Assuming that neutrinos oscillate to active flavors the pp neutrino flux emitted in the solar fusion reaction is approximately (7.6 ± 2.0) x 10 10/(cm 2 s), in agreement with the standard solar model calculation of (5.95 ± 0.06) x 10 10/(cm 2 s).