2005/01/31 by P. A. Sturrock, D. O. Caldwell, J. D. Scargle +1 · 3 citations
Physics and Astronomy · #Astrophysics #Astrophysics and Cosmic Phenomena #Neutrino #Neutrino Physics Research #Neutrino astronomy #Neutrino oscillation #Particle physics #Particle physics theoretical and experimental studies #Physics #Solar neutrino #Solar neutrino problem #Solar physics #Super-Kamiokande #hep-ph
paper · pdf · doi:10.1103/physrevd.72.113004
published as Phys.Rev.D72:113004,2005 · 41 pages, 7 tables, 25 figures
arxiv created 2005/08/08 · openalex publication_date 2005/12/29 · arxiv updated 2009/12/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/05
Since rotational or similar modulation of the solar neutrino flux would seem to be incompatible with the currently accepted theoretical interpretation of the solar neutrino deficit, it is important to determine whether or not such modulation occurs. There have been conflicting claims as to whether or not power-spectrum analysis of the Super-Kamiokande solar neutrino data yields indication of variability. Comparison of these claims is complicated by the fact that the relevant articles may use different data sets, different methods of analysis, and different procedures for significance estimation. The purpose of this article is to clarify the role of power-spectrum analysis. To this end, we analyze primarily the Super-Kamiokande 5-day data set, and we use a standard procedure for significance estimation as used by the Super-Kamiokande collaboration. We then analyze this data set, with this method of significance estimation, using six methods of power-spectrum analysis. Five of these have been used in published articles, and the other is a method that might have been used. We find that, with one exception, the results of these calculations are consistent with those of previously published analyses. We find that the power of the principal modulation (that at 9.43 yr^\ensuremath-1) is greater in analyses that take account of error estimates than in the basic Lomb-Scargle analysis that does not take account of error estimates. The corresponding significance level ranges between 98% and 99.3%, depending on the details of the analysis. Concerning the recent article by Koshio, we find that we can reproduce the results of his power-spectrum analysis but not the results of his Monte Carlo simulations, and we have a suggestion that may account for the difference. We also comment on a recent article by Yoo et al. We discuss, in terms of subdominant processes, possible neutrino-physics interpretations of the apparent variability of the Super-Kamiokande measurements, and we suggest steps that could be taken to resolve the question of variability of the solar neutrino flux.