Salty Water Cerenkov Detectors

Abstract

The addition of certain solutes to a water Cerenkov detector will introduce new charge-current channels for the detection of $\hat{I}{½}_e$s. The experimental conditions necessary to exploit such signals - large volumes and very low backgrounds - should be reached for the first time in SuperKamiokande and SNO. I compare some of the more attractive possibilities (${}^7$Li, ${}^{11}$B, ${}^{35}$Cl) in terms of counting rate, reliability of the cross section, specificity of signal, and potential for distinguishing competing solutions to the solar neutrino puzzle.

Revtex; two figures