Published September 1987 | Version v1
Journal article

Solar neutrino capture rate correlated with sunspot number?

  • 1. Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, Cambridge, MA
  • 2. Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton, NJ

Description

The statistical significance of the apparent correlation between sunspots and the observed neutrino rate is quantified. It is shown that the correlation depends almost entirely upon four low neutrino capture rates near the beginning of 1980. A calculation based on standard electroweak theory and neutrino production processes demonstrates that a correlation, if real, would be extremely puzzling on energetic grounds alone. It is concluded that measurements with the Cl-37 detector during the next sunspot cycle will be needed to show that there is a physical correlation, since the existing data are not statistically significant at a definitive level. 22 references

Additional details

Publishing Information

Journal Title
Astrophys. J.
Journal Volume
320
Series
Astrophys. J.
Journal Page Range
L69-L73
ISSN
0004-637X
CODEN
ASJOA