SNO+: predictions from standard solar models and resonant spin flavour precession

Abstract

Time variability of the solar neutrino flux especially in the low and intermediate energy sector remains an open question and, if it exists, it is likely to be originated from the magnetic moment transition from active to light sterile neutrinos at times of intense solar activity and magnetic field. We examine the prospects for the SNO+ experiment to address this important issue and to distinguish between the two classes of solar models which are currently identified as corresponding to a high (SSM I) and a low (SSM II) heavy element abundance. We also evaluate the predictions from these two models for the Chlorine experiment event rate in the standard LMA and LMA+Resonant Spin Flavour Precession (RSFP) scenarios. It is found that after three years of SNO+ data taking, the pep flux measurement will be able to discriminate between the standard LMA and LMA+RSFP scenarios, independently of which is the correct solar model. If the LMA rate is measured, RSFP with B0 ∼ 280kG can be excluded at more than 4σ. A low rate would signal new physics, excluding all the 90% allowed range of the standard LMA solution at 3σ, and a time variability would be a strong signature of the RSFP model. The CNO fluxes are the ones for which the two SSM predictions exhibit the largest differences, so their measurement at SNO+ will be important to favour one or the other. The distinction will be clearer after LMA or RSFP are confirmed with pep, but still, a CNO measurement at the level of SSM I/LMA will disfavour SSM II at about 3 σ. We conclude that consistency between future pep and CNO flux measurements at SNO+ and Chlorine would either favour an LMA+RSFP scenario or favour SSM II over SSM I.