Resonance spin flavor precession of solar neutrinos after SNO neutral current data

Abstract

We present an analysis of the solar neutrino data assuming the deficit of solar neutrinos to originate from the interaction of their transition magnetic moments with the solar magnetic field. We perform fits to the rates only and global fits and consider separately the existing data prior to the announcement of the SNO neutral current results, and the present data. Predictions for the Borexino experiment are also derived. The solar field profiles are taken both in the radiation zone and core of the Sun, and in the convective zone. The latter are chosen so as to exhibit a rapid increase across the bottom of the convective zone and a moderate decrease toward the surface. Regarding the field profiles in the radiative zone and core, it is found that the data show a preference for those cases in which a strong field rests at the solar center with a steep decrease thereafter. For these, the quality of the global fits is as good as the one from the best oscillation solutions and the same as for the convective zone profiles examined. It is also found that the ${\ensuremath{\chi}}^{2}$ of the fits increases when the most recent data are considered, owing to the smaller errors involved. This in turn provides more precise predictions for Borexino than previous ones, thus resulting in a clearer possible distinction between magnetic moment and the currently favored oscillation solutions.