Two astroparticle physics problems: Solar neutrinos and primordial [sup 4]He

Miscellaneous · Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1993

OSTI ID:6924254

Kernan, P J

In this dissertation two astrophysical environments are used to constrain possible extensions of the standard model of particle physics. The first environment considered is the sun, the second is the big bang. With the sun as a neutrino source, neutrino masses as small as 10[sup [minus]6] eV, and mixing angles as small as [theta][sub u] [approx equal] 10[sup [minus]4], can be probed. The measured solar neutrino fluxes of the Davis experiment, Kamiokande, Gallex and Sage and the predictions of standard solar models is used to investigate neutrino oscillation solutions to the solar neutrino problem, and thus constrain neutrino mass matrix elements. The author considers flavor and sterile [open quotes]just-so[close quotes] and MSW neutrino oscillation solutions to the solar neutrino problem. The author shows which commonly used approximations are valid in the context of calculating numerically the neutrino oscillation solutions. This thesis demonstrates that the Kamiokande experiment was not sensitive to the semi-annual variations predicted by just-so oscillation theory, and that the proposed Borexino experiment has a promising chance to see the semi-annual variations. The solutions for the just-so and MSW scenarios are shown to be largely constrained by the Davis experiment. For sterile MSW the author predicts the event rate in the planned Sudbury Neutrino Observatory neutral current experiment. The big bang nucleosynthesis prediction for [sup 4]He is sensitive to additional contributions to the energy density of the universe when the temperature is order 1 MeV. Using observational upper bounds on D + [sup 3]He and [sup 4]He the number of light degrees of freedom can be constrained. This thesis considers the following in determining the 3rd significant figure for the predicted [sup 4]He abundance: improved numerical integration of the nuclear abundances, order [alpha] (coulomb, radiative and finite temperature) and M[sup [minus]1][sub N] corrections to the weak rates.

• Research Organization: The Ohio State Univ., Columbus, OH (United States)
• OSTI ID: 6924254
• Resource Relation: Other Information: Thesis (Ph.D.)
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS
Pa
HELIUM 4
NUCLEOSYNTHESIS
STANDARD MODEL
SOLAR NEUTRINOS
NEUTRINO OSCILLATION
ASTROPHYSICS
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
EVEN-EVEN NUCLEI
FERMIONS
HELIUM ISOTOPES
ISOTOPES
LEPTONS
LIGHT NUCLEI
MASSLESS PARTICLES
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
NEUTRINOS
NUCLEI
PARTICLE MODELS
RADIATIONS
SOLAR PARTICLES
SOLAR RADIATION
STABLE ISOTOPES
STELLAR RADIATION
SYNTHESIS
UNIFIED GAUGE MODELS
662210* - Specific Theories & Interaction Models
Particle Systematics- Unified Theories & Models- (1992-)