Solar neutrinos and the solar model

Abstract

Abstract This paper reviews solar neutrino observations interpreted in the context of the Solar Standard Model and neutrino oscillations. Solar neutrinos have been detected since 1968. Early results showed a significant discrepancy between measured solar neutrino rates and predictions. This fact has been known for 30 years as the “Solar Neutrino Problem”. At present, this discrepancy can be understood in terms of neutrino oscillations, including, in particular for solar neutrinos, matter effects. Today, solar neutrino measurements offer a unique opportunity to probe the physics of the Sun. Recently, a more robust determination of solar metal abundances has identified a discrepancy between helioseismology and the so-called solar model standard calculations. This circumstance is known as the “Solar Abundance Problem”. A future measurement of CN-cycle neutrinos could test the initial conditions in the Sun. This would help in solving this new problem which is of great interest in astrophysics. A specific example has been developed to understand the feasibility of a CN-cycle neutrinos measurement in the next future.