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Title: Neutrinos from a standard solar model

Journal Article · · Astrophys. J.; (United States)
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/159643· OSTI ID:5169771

A detailed estimate is presented of the possible uncertainty range for the neutrino flux from a standard solar model. Using present estimated errors in the key input parameters, detailed solar models are calculated to give an uncertainty in the theoretical ..nu../sub e/ capture rate in both the ongoing /sup 37/Cl experiment and the proposed experiment using /sup 71/Ga. The uncertainty in capture rate is investigated by considering individual parameter variations about a mean model, by simultaneously varying several key parameters to yield upper and lower limits, and by a Monte Carlo method. It is found that with the most recent experimental value of Davis: 2.2+0.4 SNU: and the best-estimate mean model of the present work: 7.0 +- 3.0 SNU: the theoretical to experimental ratio is 3.2 +- 1.5, or 1.5 standard deviations from agreement. The prediction for /sup 71/Ga is 111 +- 13 SNU. While the mean value for the /sup 37/Cl capture rate is in good agreement with the recent calculation of Bahcell et al., the estimated uncertainty is larger than the factor of 2. The largest sources of uncertainty in these predictions are due to the range used in the /sup 3/He(..cap alpha..,..gamma..)/sup 7/Be cross section and to the estimate of the error range of the calculated opacities. The results are also discussed, in light of recent experimental and theoretical work on neutrino oscillations, to determine if the present situation provides any evidence of such oscillations. It is found that while there is only weak evidence in the /sup 37/Cl experiments, a discrepancy in he /sup 71/Ga experiment could be interpreted as strong evidence for neutrino oscillations.

Research Organization:
Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States); and Department of Physics, University of Chicago
OSTI ID:
5169771
Journal Information:
Astrophys. J.; (United States), Vol. 253:1
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English