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We present the most recent results from the two currently running solar neutrino experiments, Borexino at the Gran Sasso laboratory in Italy and SuperK at Kamioka mine in Japan. SuperK has released the most precise yet measurement of the 8B solar neutrino interaction rate, with a precision better than 2%, consistent with a constant solar neutrino emission over more than a decade. Borexino has released refined measurements of all neutrinos produced in the pp fusion chain. For the first time, one single detector has measured the entire range of solar neutrinos at once. These new data weakly favor a high-metallicity Sun. Prospects for measuring CNO solar neutrinos with Borexino are discussed, and a brief outlook on the field provided.
We report results from a combined analysis of solar neutrino data from all phases of the Sudbury Neutrino Observatory. By exploiting particle identification information obtained from the proportional counters installed during the third phase, this analysis improved background rejection in that phase of the experiment. The combined analysis resulted in a total flux of active neutrino flavors from 8B decays in the Sun of (5.25 pm 0.16(stat.)+0.11-0.13(syst.))times10^6 cm^{-2}s^{-1}. A two-flavor neutrino oscillation analysis yielded Deltam^2_{21} = (5.6^{+1.9}_{-1.4})times10^{-5} eV^2 and tan^2{theta}_{12}= 0.427^{+0.033}_{-0.029}. A three-flavor neutrino oscillation analysis combining this result with results of all other solar neutrino experiments and the KamLAND experiment yielded Deltam^2_{21} = (7.41^{+0.21}_{-0.19})times10^{-5} eV^2, tan^2{theta}_{12} = 0.446^{+0.030}_{-0.029}, and sin^2{theta}_{13} = (2.5^{+1.8}_{-1.5})times10^{-2}. This implied an upper bound of sin^2{theta}_{13} < 0.053 at the 95% confidence level (C.L.).
This paper details the solar neutrino analysis of the 385.17-day Phase-III data set acquired by the Sudbury Neutrino Observatory (SNO). An array of $^3$He proportional counters was installed in the heavy-water target to measure precisely the rate of neutrino-deuteron neutral-current interactions. This technique to determine the total active $^8$B solar neutrino flux was largely independent of the methods employed in previous phases. The total flux of active neutrinos was measured to be $5.54^{+0.33}_{-0.31}(stat.)^{+0.36}_{-0.34}(syst.)times 10^{6}$ cm$^{-2}$ s$^{-1}$, consistent with previous measurements and standard solar models. A global analysis of solar and reactor neutrino mixing parameters yielded the best-fit values of $Delta m^2 = 7.59^{+0.19}_{-0.21}times 10^{-5}{eV}^2$ and $theta = 34.4^{+1.3}_{-1.2}$ degrees.
Low Energy solar neutrino detection plays a fundamental role in understanding both solar astrophysics and particle physics. After introducing the open questions on both fields, we review here the major results of the last two years and expectations for the near future from Borexino, Super-Kamiokande, SNO and KamLAND experiments as well as from upcoming (SNO+) and planned (LENA) experiments. Scintillator neutrino detectors are also powerful antineutrino detectors such as those emitted by the Earth crust and mantle. First measurements of geo-neutrinos have occurred and can bring fundamental contribution in understanding the geophysics of the planet.
We report a measurement of the neutrino-electron elastic scattering rate of 862 keV 7Be solar neutrinos based on a 165.4 kton-day exposure of KamLAND. The observed rate is 582 +/- 90 (kton-day)^-1, which corresponds to a 862 keV 7Be solar neutrino flux of (3.26 +/- 0.50) x 10^9 cm^-2s^-1, assuming a pure electron flavor flux. Comparing this flux with the standard solar model prediction and further assuming three flavor mixing, a nu_e survival probability of 0.66 +/- 0.14 is determined from the KamLAND data. Utilizing a global three flavor oscillation analysis, we obtain a total 7Be solar neutrino flux of (5.82 +/- 0.98) x 10^9 cm^-2s^-1, which is consistent with the standard solar model predictions.
We summarize and critically evaluate the available data on nuclear fusion cross sections important to energy generation in the Sun and other hydrogen-burning stars and to solar neutrino production. Recommended values and uncertainties are provided for key cross sections, and a recommended spectrum is given for 8B solar neutrinos. We also discuss opportunities for further increasing the precision of key rates, including new facilities, new experimental techniques, and improvements in theory. This review, which summarizes the conclusions of a workshop held at the Institute for Nuclear Theory, Seattle, in January 2009, is intended as a 10-year update and supplement to Reviews of Modern Physics 70 (1998) 1265.