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Stars as Laboratories for Fundamental Physics - MPP Theory Group

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364 Chapter 10<br />

Table 10.6. Predicted absorption rate (in SNU) by 71 Ga <strong>for</strong> different solar<br />

source reactions. BP92 give “theoretical 3σ” uncertainties.<br />

Diffusion pp pep 7 Be 8 B 13 N 15 O Total<br />

BP95 He, metals 69.7 3.0 37.7 16.1 3.8 6.3 137 +8<br />

−7<br />

BP92 He 70.8 3.1 35.8 13.8 3.0 4.9 131.5 +21<br />

−17<br />

BP92 — 71.3 3.1 32.9 12.3 2.7 4.3 127 +19<br />

−16<br />

TL93 — 71.1 3.0 30.9 10.8 2.4 3.7 122.5 ± 7<br />

BP92 = Bahcall and Pinsonneault (1992).<br />

BP95 = Bahcall and Pinsonneault (1995).<br />

TL93 = Turck-Chièze and Lopes (1993).<br />

The GALLEX experiment w<strong>as</strong> subjected to an “on-off test” by<br />

virtue of a laboratory ν e source strong enough to “outshine” the Sun<br />

in its local neutrino flux (GALLEX collaboration 1995a). To this end<br />

a container with activated chromium w<strong>as</strong> inserted in the center of the<br />

tank containing the target fluid. The relevant isotope is 51 Cr which<br />

decays to 51 V with a half-life of 27.71 d by electron capture. The ν e<br />

spectrum consists of four monoenergetic lines of energies 426 keV (9%),<br />

431 keV (1%), 746 keV (81%), and 751 keV (9%). The dominating line<br />

is very close to the solar beryllium line. An analysis of the first seven<br />

exposures reveals a ratio between the me<strong>as</strong>ured and expected counting<br />

rate of 1.04 ± 0.12. At the present time, four further extractions are<br />

still being analyzed. Meanwhile, the source is being reactivated at the<br />

Siloé nuclear reactor in Grenoble (France) in order to per<strong>for</strong>m further<br />

exposures.<br />

The GALLEX collaboration h<strong>as</strong> interpreted the source experiment<br />

<strong>as</strong> a global test of their detector efficiency. Most recently, Hata and<br />

Haxton (1995) have advocated a somewhat different view. They argue<br />

that the gallium absorption cross section <strong>for</strong> the 746 keV line is poorly<br />

known because of excited-state contributions which have not been directly<br />

me<strong>as</strong>ured, and which are more uncertain than had been acknowledged<br />

in the previous literature. According to Hata and Haxton the<br />

source experiment should not be taken <strong>as</strong> me<strong>as</strong>uring, say, the GALLEX<br />

extraction efficiency but rather <strong>as</strong> me<strong>as</strong>uring the excited-state contributions<br />

to the absorption cross section <strong>for</strong> beryllium neutrinos.

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