8B Neutrino Flux Research Articles

Model-independent Approach of the JUNO 8B Solar Neutrino Program

The physics potential of detecting 8B solar neutrinos will be exploited at the Jiangmen Underground Neutrino Observatory (JUNO), in a model-independent manner by using three distinct channels of the charged current (CC), neutral current (NC), and elastic scattering (ES) interactions. Due to the largest-ever mass of 13C nuclei in the liquid scintillator detectors and the expected low background level, 8B solar neutrinos are observable in the CC and NC interactions on 13C for the first time. By virtue of optimized event selections and muon veto strategies, backgrounds from the accidental coincidence, muon-induced isotopes, and external backgrounds can be greatly suppressed. Excellent signal-to-background ratios can be achieved in the CC, NC, and ES channels to guarantee the observation of the 8B solar neutrinos. From the sensitivity studies performed in this work, we show that JUNO, with 10 yr of data, can reach the 1σ precision levels of 5%, 8%, and 20% for the 8B neutrino flux, sin2θ12 , and Δm212 , respectively. Probing the details of both solar physics and neutrino physics would be unique and helpful. In addition, when combined with the Sudbury Neutrino Observatory measurement, the world's best precision of 3% is expected for the measurement of the 8B neutrino flux.

Determination of the astrophysical factor of the 3He(α,γ)7Be down to zero energy using the asymptotic normalization coefficient method

The observation of neutrinos emitted in the p − p chain and in the CNO cycle can be employed to test the Standard Solar Model. The 3He(α,γ)7Be reaction is the first reaction of the 2nd and 3rd branch of the p − p chain, so the indetermination of its cross section significantly affects the predicted 7Be and 8B neutrino fluxes. Notwithstanding its relevance and the great deal of experimental and theoretical papers, information of the reaction cross section at energies of the core of the Sun (15 keV - 30 keV) is sparse and additional experimental work is necessary to attain the target (~ 3%) accuracy. The precise understanding of the external capture component to the 3He(α,γ)7Be reaction cross section is pivotal for the theoretical assessment of the reaction mechanism. In this work, the indirect measurement of this external capture component using the Asymptotic Normalization Coefficient (ANC) technique is discussed. To extract the ANC, the angular distributions of deuterons yielded in the 6Li(3He,d)7Be α-transfer reaction were detected with high precision at E3He =3.0 MeV and 5.0 MeV. The ANCs were then deduced from the juxtaposition of DWBA and CC calculations with the experimental angular distributions and the zero energy astrophysical S-factor for 3He(α,γ)7Be reaction was calculated to equal 0.534 ± 0.025 keVb. Both our experimental and theoretical approaches were tested through the analysis of the 6Li(p,γ)7Be astrophysical factor, with further interesting astrophysical implications.

Determination of the 3He(α, γ)7Be and 6Li(p, γ)7Be astrophysical factors down to zero energy using the asymptotic normalization coefficients

The p - p-chain reaction 3He(α, γ)7Be can sensitively influence the prediction of the 7Be and 8B neutrino fluxes. Despite its importance, the knowledge of its reaction cross section at energies of the core of the Sun (15 keV 30 keV) is limited and the accuracy far from the desired 3% level. In the present paper the indirect measurement of the external capture contribution using the asymptotic normalization coefficient (ANC) technique is reported. The angular distributions of deuterons emitted in the 6Li(3He,d)7Be α-transfer reactions were measured and the ANCs extracted from the scaling of distorted-wave Born approximation (DWBA) and coupled-channel (CC) calculations. Then, the astrophysical S-factor for the 3He(α, γ)7Be reaction was calculated assuming E1 direct capture and the zero energy value turned out to be 0.534 0.025 keVb. Both our experimental and theoretical approaches were benchmarked through the analysis of the 6Li(p,γ)7Be astrophysical factor, with interesting astrophysical applications to the understanding of the primordial lithium problem. In particular, the present work disfavors the occurrence of a claimed 200 keV resonance in the astrophysical factor.

Core overshoot constrained by the absence of a solar convective core and some solar-like stars

ABSTRACT Convective-core overshoot mixing is a significant uncertainty in stellar evolution. Because numerical simulations and turbulent convection models predict exponentially decreasing radial rms turbulent velocity, a popular treatment for overshoot mixing is to apply a diffusion process with an exponentially decreasing diffusion coefficient. It is important to investigate the parameters of the diffusion coefficient because they determine the efficiency of the mixing in the overshoot region. In this paper, we have investigated the effects of the core overshoot mixing on the properties of the core in solar models. We have constrained the parameters of the overshoot model by using helioseismic inferences and the observation of the solar 8B neutrino flux. For solar-mass stars, the core overshoot mixing helps to prolong the lifetime of the convective core developed at the zero-age main sequence. If the strength of the mixing is sufficiently high, then the convective core in a solar model could survive until the present solar age, leading to large deviations of the sound speed and density profiles compared with the helioseismic inferences. The 8B neutrino flux also favours a radiative solar core. These observations provide a constraint on the parameters of the exponential diffusion model of the convective overshoot mixing. A limited asteroseismic investigation of 13 Kepler low-mass stars with 1.0 < M/M⊙ < 1.5 shows a mass-dependent range of the overshoot parameter. The overshoot mixing processes for different elements are analysed in detail. It is found that the exponential diffusion overshoot model leads to different effective overshoot mixing lengths for elements with different nuclear equilibrium time-scales.

Change of 7Be decay rate under compression

We have studied the change of decay rate of 7Be implanted in the small Pd lattice versus large Pb lattice. Since the electron affinities of Pd and Pb are very low and similar, any observed increase of the decay rate of 7Be could be attributed to the compressional effect in the smaller confinement of Pd lattice. It has been found that the decay rate of 7Be is faster in Pd lattice compared to that in Pb lattice by (0.82± 0.16)%. Similar results were observed by applying high external pressure on 7BeO lattice. Density functional calculations underpredict the increase of 7Be decay rate under compression by a large factor. It is important to understand this result because of its significance in calculating 7Be decay rate in the solar core and corresponding 8B neutrino flux.

Astrophysical S-factor for the 3He(α,γ)7Be reaction via the asymptotic normalization coefficient (ANC) method

The detection of the neutrinos produced in the p−p chain and in the CNO cycle can be used to test the Standard Solar Model. The 3He(α,γ)7Be reaction is the first reaction of the 2nd and 3rd branch of the p−p chain, therefore, the uncertainty of its cross section sensitively influences the prediction of the 7Be and 8B neutrino fluxes. Despite its importance and the large number of experimental and theoretical works devoted to this reaction, the knowledge on the reaction cross section at energies characterizing the core of the Sun (15 keV - 30 keV) is limited and further experimental efforts are needed to reach the desired (≈ 3%) accuracy. The precise knowledge on the external capture contribution to the 3He(α,γ)7Be reaction cross section is crucial for the theoretical description of the reaction mechanism. In the present work the indirect measurement of this external capture contribution using the Asymptotic Normalization Coefficient (ANC) technique is reported. To extract the ANC, the angular distributions of deuterons emitted in the 6Li(3He,d)7Be α-transfer reaction were measured with high precision at EH3e = 3.0 MeV and EH3e = 5.0 MeV. The ANCs were then extracted from comparison of DWBA calculations to the measured data and the zero energy astrophysical S-factor for 3He(α,γ)7Be reaction was found to be 0.534 ± 0.025 keVb.

Effects of a revised 7Be e−-capture rate on solar neutrino fluxes

Context. Electron-capture on 7Be is the main production channel for 7Li in several astrophysical environments. Theoretical evaluations have to account for not only the nuclear interaction, but also the processes in the plasma in which 7Be ions and electrons interact. In recent decades several estimates were presented, pointing out that the theoretical uncertainty in the rate is in general of a few percent. Aims. In the framework of fundamental solar physics, we consider a recent evaluation for the 7Be+e− rate, which has not been used up to now, in the estimate of neutrino fluxes. Methods. We analyzed the effects of the new assumptions on standard solar models (SSMs) and compared the results obtained by adopting the revised 7Be+e− rate to those obtained by that reported in a widely used compilation of reaction rates (ADE11). Results. We found that new SSMs yield a maximum difference in the efficiency of the 7Be channel of about −4% with respect to what is obtained with the previously adopted rate. This fact affects the production of neutrinos from 8B, increasing the relative flux up to a maximum of 2.7%. Negligible variations are found for the physical and chemical properties of the computed solar models. Conclusions. The agreement with the Sudbury Neutrino Observatory measurements of the neutral current component of the 8B neutrino flux is improved.

Constraining the 7Be(p,γ)8B S-factor with the new precise 7Be solar neutrino flux from Borexino

Among the solar fusion reactions, the rate of the 7Be(p,γ)8B reaction is one of the most difficult to determine rates. In a number of previous experiments, its astrophysical S-factor has been measured at E=0.1–2.5 MeV centre-of-mass energy. However, no experimental data is available below 0.1 MeV. Thus, an extrapolation to solar energies is necessary, resulting in significant uncertainty for the extrapolated S-factor. On the other hand, the measured solar neutrino fluxes are now very precise. Therefore, the problem of the S-factor determination is turned around here: Using the measured 7Be and 8B neutrino fluxes and the Standard Solar Model, the 7Be(p,γ)8B astrophysical S-factor is determined at the solar Gamow peak. In addition, the 3He(α,γ)7Be S-factor is redetermined with a similar method.

Halo effective field theory constrains the solar 7Be + p → 8B + γ rate

We report an improved low-energy extrapolation of the cross section for the process Be7(p,γ)B8, which determines the 8B neutrino flux from the Sun. Our extrapolant is derived from Halo Effective Field Theory (EFT) at next-to-leading order. We apply Bayesian methods to determine the EFT parameters and the low-energy S-factor, using measured cross sections and scattering lengths as inputs. Asymptotic normalization coefficients of 8B are tightly constrained by existing radiative capture data, and contributions to the cross section beyond external direct capture are detected in the data at E<0.5 MeV. Most importantly, the S-factor at zero energy is constrained to be S(0)=21.3±0.7 eVb, which is an uncertainty smaller by a factor of two than previously recommended. That recommendation was based on the full range for S(0) obtained among a discrete set of models judged to be reasonable. In contrast, Halo EFT subsumes all models into a controlled low-energy approximant, where they are characterized by nine parameters at next-to-leading order. These are fit to data, and marginalized over via Monte Carlo integration to produce the improved prediction for S(E).

Achievements in solar neutrino physics with the Borexino detector

AbstractBorexino is an organic liquid scintillator detector located in the Gran Sasso National Laboratory in central Italy. It has been designed for real‐time spectroscopy of low energy solar neutrinos. In Phase I of the experiment lasting for three years, between May 2007 and May 2010, the Collaboration performed the first independent measurements of 7Be, 8B, and pep solar neutrino fluxes. After a dedicated purification campaign of the liquid scintillator in 2011, Borexino entered into Phase II which allowed to investigate the seasonal modulation in the 7Be signal. In 2014, Borexino provided the first direct real time measurement of pp neutrinos accomplishing the whole pp‐cycle that powers the Sun. (© 2015 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH &amp; Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

Constraining big bang lithium production with recent solar neutrino data

The 3He({\alpha},{\gamma})7Be reaction affects not only the production of 7Li in Big Bang nucleosynthesis, but also the fluxes of 7Be and 8B neutrinos from the Sun. This double role is exploited here to constrain the former by the latter. A number of recent experiments on 3He({\alpha},{\gamma})7Be provide precise cross section data at E = 0.5-1.0 MeV center-of-mass energy. However, there is a scarcity of precise data at Big Bang energies, 0.1-0.5 MeV, and below. This problem can be alleviated, based on precisely calibrated 7Be and 8B neutrino fluxes from the Sun that are now available, assuming the neutrino flavour oscillation framework to be correct. These fluxes and the standard solar model are used here to determine the 3He(alpha,gamma)7Be astrophysical S-factor at the solar Gamow peak, S(23+6-5 keV) = 0.548+/-0.054 keVb. This new data point is then included in a re-evaluation of the 3He({\alpha},{\gamma})7Be S-factor at Big Bang energies, following an approach recently developed for this reaction in the context of solar fusion studies. The re-evaluated S-factor curve is then used to re-determine the 3He({\alpha},{\gamma})7Be thermonuclear reaction rate at Big Bang energies. The predicted primordial lithium abundance is 7Li/H = 5.0e-10, far higher than the Spite plateau.

SEARCH FOR GLOBAL f -MODES AND p -MODES IN THE 8 B NEUTRINO FLUX

The impact of global acoustic modes on the 8B neutrino flux time series is computed for the first time. It is shown that the time fluctuations of the 8B neutrino flux depend on the amplitude of acoustic eigenfunctions in the region where the 8B neutrino flux is produced: modes with low n (or order) that have eigenfunctions with a relatively large amplitude in the Sun's core, strongly affect the neutrino flux; conversely, modes with high n that have eigenfunctions with a minimal amplitude in the Sun's core have a very small impact on the neutrino flux. It was found that the global modes with a larger impact on the 8B neutrino flux have a frequency of oscillation in the interval 250 \mu Hz to 500 \mu Hz (or a period in the interval 30 minutes to 70 minutes), such as the f-modes (n=0) for the low degrees, radial modes of order n smaller or equal to 3, and the dipole mode of order n=1. Their corresponding neutrino eigenfunctions are very sensitive to the solar inner core and are unaffected by the variability of the external layers of the solar surface. If time variability of neutrinos is observed for these modes, it will lead to new ways of improving the sound speed profile inversion in the central region of the Sun.

Re-examination of constraints on the Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution by Helioseismology

Nuclear reactions in stars occur between nuclei in the high-energy tail of the energy distribution and are sensitive to possible deviations from the standard equilibrium thermal-energy distribution, the well-known Maxwell-Boltzmann Distribution (MBD). Strong constraints on such deviations were made previously with the detailed helioseismic information of the solar structure. With a small deviation parameterized with a factor exp[−δ(E/kT)2], it was shown δ restricted between −0.005 and +0.002. These constraints have been carefully re-examined in the present work. We find that a normalization factor was missed in the previous modified MBD. In this work, the normalization factor c is calculated as a function of δ. It shows the factor c is almost unity within the range 0<δ≤0.002, which supports the previous conclusion. However, it demonstrates that δ cannot take a negative value from the normalization point of view. As a result, a stronger constraint on δ is defined as 0≤ δ ≤0.002. The astrophysical implication on the solar neutrino fluxes is simply discussed based on a positive δ value of 0.003. The reduction of the 7Be and 8B neutrino fluxes expected from the modified MBD can possibly shed alternative light on the solar neutrino problem. In addition, the resonant reaction rates for the 14N(p, γ)15O reaction are calculated with a standard MBD and a modified MBD, respectively. It shows that the rates are quite sensitive even to a very small δ. This work demonstrates the importance and necessity of experimental verification or testing of the well-known MBD at high temperatures.

Planetary influence on the young Sun's evolution: the solar neutrino probe

Recent observations of solar twin stars with planetary systems like the Sun, have uncovered that these present a peculiar surface chemical composition. This is believed to be related to the formation of earth-like planets. This suggests that twin stars have a radiative interior that is richer in heavy elements than their envelopes. Moreover, the current standard solar model does not fully agree with the helioseismology data and solar neutrino flux measurements. In this work, we find that this agreement can improve if the Sun has mass loss during the pre-main sequence, as was previously shown by other groups. Despite this better agreement, the internal composition of the Sun is still uncertain, especially for elements heavier than helium. With the goal of inferring the chemical abundance of the solar interior, we tested several chemical compositions. We found that heavy element abundances influence the sound speed and solar neutrinos equally. Nevertheless, the carbon-nitrogen-oxygen (CNO;13N, 15O and 17F) neutrino fluxes are the most affected; this is due to the fact that contrarily to proton-proton (pp, pep, 8B and 7Be) neutrino fluxes, the CNO neutrino fluxes are less dependent on the total luminosity of the star. Furthermore, if the central solar metallicity increases by 30%, as hinted by the solar twin stars observations, this new solar model predicts that 13N, 15O and 17F neutrino fluxes increase by 25%-80% relative to the standard solar model. Finally, we highlight that the next generation of solar neutrino experiments will not only put constraints on the abundances of carbon, oxygen and nitrogen, but will also give some information about their radial distribution.

Probing the Sun’s inner core using solar neutrinos: A new diagnostic method

The electronic density in the Sun's inner core is inferred from the 8B, 7Be and pep neutrino flux measurements of the Super-Kamiokande, SNO and Borexino experiments. We have developed a new method in which we use the KamLAND detector determinations of the neutrino fundamental oscillation parameters: the mass difference and the vacuum oscillation angle. Our results suggest that the solar electronic density in the Sun's inner core (for a radius smaller than 10% of the solar radius) is well above the current prediction of the standard solar model, and by as much as 25%. A potential confirmation of these preliminary findings can be achieved when neutrino detectors are able to reduce the error of the electron-neutrino survival probability by a factor of 15.

Final results from SNO

The Sudbury Neutrino Observatory (SNO) has measured both the total flux and the electron-type flux of active 8B neutrinos from the Sun, demonstrating flavor change and solving the solar neutrino problem. This was carried out in three experimental phases, with different strengths and systematic uncertainties. The final analysis of the SNO data was completed, where a substantial improvement in precision was obtained by performing a joint analysis of the data from all phases. This article presents the combined 3-phase data analysis and its results, that provided the most precise measurement of the total neutrino flux and the θ12 mixing angle.

SOLAR NEUTRINO PHYSICS: SENSITIVITY TO LIGHT DARK MATTER PARTICLES

Neutrinos are produced in several neutrino nuclear reactions of the proton-proton chain and carbon-nitrogen-oxygen cycle that take place at different radius of the Sun's core. Hence, measurements of solar neutrino fluxes provide a precise determination of the local temperature. The accumulation of non-annihilating light dark matter particles (with masses between 5 GeV and 16 GeV in the Sun produces a change in the local solar structure, namely, a decrease in the central temperature of a few percent. This variation depends on the properties of the dark matter particles, such as the mass of the particle and its spin-independent scattering cross-section on baryon-nuclei, specifically, the scattering with helium, oxygen, and nitrogen among other heavy elements. This temperature effect can be measured in almost all solar neutrino fluxes. In particular, by comparing the neutrino fluxes generated by stellar models with current observations, namely 8B neutrino fluxes, we find that non-annihilating dark matter particles with a mass smaller than 10 GeV and a spin-independent scattering cross-section with heavy baryon-nuclei larger than 3 x 10^{-37} cm^-2 produce a variation in the 8B neutrino fluxes that would be in conflict with current measurements.

Solar neutrino results in Super-Kamiokande-III

The results of the third phase of the Super-Kamiokande solar neutrino measurement are presented and compared to the first and second phase results. With improved detector calibrations, a full detector simulation, and improved analysis methods, the systematic uncertainty on the total neutrino flux is estimated to be ?2.1%, which is about two thirds of the systematic uncertainty for the first phase of Super-Kamiokande. The observed 8B solar flux in the 5.0 to 20 MeV total electron energy region is 2.32+/-0.04 (stat.)+/-0.05 (sys.) *10^6 cm^-2sec^-1, in agreement with previous measurements. A combined oscillation analysis is carried out using SK-I, II, and III data, and the results are also combined with the results of other solar neutrino experiments. The best-fit oscillation parameters are obtained to be sin^2 {\theta}12 = 0.30+0.02-0.01(tan^2 {\theta}12 = 0.42+0.04 -0.02) and {\Delta}m2_21 = 6.2+1.1-1.9 *10^-5eV^2. Combined with KamLAND results, the best-fit oscillation parameters are found to be sin^2 {\theta}12 = 0.31+/-0.01(tan^2 {\theta}12 = 0.44+/-0.03) and {\Delta}m2_21 = 7.6?0.2*10^-5eV^2 . The 8B neutrino flux obtained from global solar neutrino experiments is 5.3+/-0.2(stat.+sys.)*10^6cm^-2s^-1, while the 8B flux becomes 5.1+/-0.1(stat.+sys.)*10^6cm^-2s^-1 by adding KamLAND result. In a three-flavor analysis combining all solar neutrino experiments, the upper limit of sin^2 {\theta}13 is 0.060 at 95% C.L.. After combination with KamLAND results, the upper limit of sin^2 {\theta}13 is found to be 0.059 at 95% C.L..

Measurement of the solarB8neutrino rate with a liquid scintillator target and 3 MeV energy threshold in the Borexino detector

We report the measurement of electron neutrino elastic scattering from 8B solar neutrinos with 3 MeV energy threshold by the Borexino detector in Gran Sasso (Italy). The rate of solar neutrino-induced electron scattering events above this energy in Borexino is 0.217 +- 0.038 (stat) +- 0.008 (syst) cpd/100 t, which corresponds to the equivalent unoscillated flux of (2.4 +- 0.4 (stat) +- 0.1 (syst))x10^6 cm^-2 s^-1, in good agreement with measurements from SNO and SuperKamiokaNDE. Assuming the 8B neutrino flux predicted by the high metallicity Standard Solar Model, the average 8B neutrino survival probability above 3 MeV is measured to be 0.29+-0.10. The survival probabilities for 7Be and 8B neutrinos as measured by Borexino differ by 1.9 sigma. These results are consistent with the prediction of the MSW-LMA solution of a transition in the solar electron neutrino survival probability between the low energy vacuum-driven and the high-energy matter-enhanced solar neutrino oscillation regimes.

Solar neutrino results from Borexino and main future perspectives

Borexino is a solar neutrino experiment running at the Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso, Italy. The radioactive background levels in the liquid scintillator target meet or even exceed design goals, opening unanticipated opportunities. The main results, so far, are the measurement of the 7Be solar neutrino flux (the first ever done) and the measurement of the 8B neutrino flux performed with electron energy threshold of 2.8 MeV. The short and medium term perspectives are summarized in the conclusions.