Model Independent Approach of the JUNO ${}^8$B Solar Neutrino Program

Abstract

The physics potential of detecting ${}^8$B solar neutrinos will be exploited at the Jiangmen Underground Neutrino Observatory (JUNO), in a model independent manner by using three distinct channels of the charged-current (CC), neutral-current (NC) and elastic scattering (ES) interactions. Due to the largest-ever mass of ${}^{13}$C nuclei in the liquid-scintillator detectors and the {expected} low background level, ${}^8$B solar neutrinos would be observable in the CC and NC interactions on ${}^{13}$C for the first time. By virtue of optimized event selections and muon veto strategies, backgrounds from the accidental coincidence, muon-induced isotopes, and external backgrounds can be greatly suppressed. Excellent signal-to-background ratios can be achieved in the CC, NC and ES channels to guarantee the ${}^8$B solar neutrino observation. From the sensitivity studies performed in this work, we show that JUNO, with ten years of data, can reach the {1$\ddot{I}ƒ$} precision levels of 5%, 8% and 20% for the ${}^8$B neutrino flux, ${\sin }^2\hat{I}{¸}_{12}$, and $\hat{I}”m_{21}^2$, respectively. It would be unique and helpful to probe the details of both solar physics and neutrino physics. In addition, when combined with SNO, the world-best precision of 3% is expected for the ${}^8$B neutrino flux measurement.

19 pages, 7 figures, accepted version to appear in The Astrophysical Journal. Yufeng Li and Jiajie Ling are corresponding authors