Abstract
The Borexino experiment is taking data since 2007 at the Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso in Italy accomplishing outstanding achievements in the field of neutrino physics. Its success is strongly based on the unprecedented ultra-high radio-purity of the inner scintillator core. The main features of the detector and the impressive results for solar and geo-neutrinos obtained by Borexino so far are summarized. The main focus is laid on the most recent results, i.e. the first real-time measurement of the solar pp neutrino flux and the detection of the signal induced by geo-neutrinos with a significance as high as 5.9σ. The measurement of the pp neutrino flux represents a direct probe of the major mechanism of energy production in the Sun and its observation at a significance of 10σ proves the stability of the Sun over a time of at least 105 years. It further puts Borexino in the unique position of being capable to test the MSW-LMA paradigm across the whole solar energy range. The geo-neutrino data allow to infer information concerning important geophysical properties of the Earth that are also discussed. The perspectives of the final stage of the Borexino solar neutrino program that are centered on the goal of measuring the CNO neutrinos that so far escaped any observation are outlined.
Original language | English (US) |
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Article number | 012114 |
Journal | Journal of Physics: Conference Series |
Volume | 798 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Mar 7 2017 |
Event | 2nd International Conference on Particle Physics and Astrophysics, ICPPA 2016 - Moscow, Russian Federation Duration: Oct 10 2016 → Oct 14 2016 |
All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- General Physics and Astronomy