Bounds on hep neutrinos
arXiv:astro-ph/9810083 · doi:10.1016/S0370-2693(98)01417-8
Abstract
The excess of highest energy solar-neutrino events recently observed by Superkamiokande can be in principle explained by anomalously high $hep$-neutrino flux $Φ_ν(hep)$. Without using SSM calculations, from the solar luminosity constraint we derive that $Φ_ν(hep)/S_{13}$ cannot exceed the SSM estimate by more than a factor three. If one makes the additional hypothesis that $hep$ neutrino production occurs where the $^3$He concentration is at equilibrium, helioseismology gives an upper bound which is (less then) two times the SSM prediction. We argue that the anomalous $hep$-neutrino flux of order of that observed by Superkamiokande cannot be explained by astrophysics, but rather by a large production cross-section.
7 pages, RevTeX file