Novel Heavy-Water Detector Unveils the Missing Solar Neutrinos

Physics Today ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 54 (8) ◽  
pp. 13-15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bertram Schwarzschild
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Water ◽  
Solar Neutrinos

First Solar Neutrino Observations from SNO

2001 ◽  
Vol 16 (supp01b) ◽  
pp. 715-717
Author(s):  
◽  
Mark S. Neubauer
Keyword(s):  
Angular Distribution ◽  
Elastic Scattering ◽  
Energy Distribution ◽  
Heavy Water ◽  
Solar Neutrino ◽  
Region Of Interest ◽  
Solar Neutrinos ◽  
Charged Current ◽  
Cerenkov Detector ◽  
Detection Medium

The first solar neutrino observations from the Sudbury Neutrino Obervatory are presented. SNO is a water Cerenkov detector which uses heavy water (D2O) as both the interaction and detection medium. Based on the angular distribution of events with respect to the solar direction and the radial and energy distribution of events in the detector, it is concluded that data in the region of interest is dominated by 8 B solar neutrinos detected via the charged current and elastic scattering reactions.

Solar-neutrino neutral-current detection methods in the Sudbury neutrino observatory

1991 ◽  
Vol 69 (11) ◽  
pp. 1309-1316 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. K. Hargrove ◽  
D. J. Paterson
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Water ◽  
Solar Neutrino ◽  
Neutral Current ◽  
Solar Neutrinos ◽  
Light Nuclei ◽  
Detection Methods ◽  
Sudbury Neutrino Observatory ◽  
Original Design ◽  
Γ Rays ◽  
Current Detection

The Sudbury Neutrino Observatory will study the solar-neutrino problem through the detection of charged-current (CC), neutral-current (NC), and elastic-scattering (ES) interactions of solar neutrinos with heavy water. The measurement of the NC rate relative to the CC rate provides a nearly model-independent method of observing neutrino oscillations. The NC interaction breaks up the deuteron producing a neutron and a proton. The interaction rate in the original design is measured by observing Čerenkov light from showers produced by neutron-capture γ rays from the capture of the NC neutrons by a selected additive to the heavy water. These signals overlap the CC and ES signals, so that the measurement of the NC rate requires the subtraction of two signals obtained at different times. This paper describes our investigation of an alternate detection method in which the thermalized neutrons are captured by (n, α) or (n, p) reactions on light nuclei. The resulting charged-particle products are uniquely detected by scintillators or proportional counters, completely separating this NC signal from the CC and ES Čerenkov signals, thus simplifying its measurement, improving its significance, and allowing observation of otherwise unobservable short-term NC fluctuations. Although background rates for the new techniques have not yet been determined, the experimental advantages justify further development work.

Calculation of Equilibrium Constant for Dimerization of Heavy Water Molecules in Saturated Vapor

2015 ◽  
Vol 60 (3) ◽  
pp. 263-267
Author(s):  
L.A. Bulavin ◽  
◽  
S.V. Khrapatyi ◽  
V.M. Makhlaichuk ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Equilibrium Constant ◽  
Heavy Water ◽  
Saturated Vapor ◽  
Water Molecules
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