11B and Constraints on Neutrino Oscillations and Spectra from Neutrino Nucleosynthesis

TL;DR

This study investigates how variations in helium-burning reaction rates affect the production of specific isotopes in supernovae and explores how these yields can constrain neutrino spectra.

Contribution

It introduces a sensitivity analysis of isotope yields to reaction rate uncertainties and proposes using 11B production to constrain supernova neutrino spectra.

Findings

Less than 15% of 7Li is produced in supernovae.

11B yield varies significantly with reaction rate uncertainties.

Total 11B yield can potentially constrain supernova neutrino spectra.

Abstract

We have studied the sensitivity to variations in the triple alpha and 12C(alpha, gamma)16O reaction rates, of the yield of the neutrino process isotopes 7Li,11B, 19F, 138La, and 180Ta in core collapse supernovae. Compared to solar abundances, less than 15% of 7Li, about 25-80% of 19F, and about half of 138La is produced in these stars. Over a range of two sigma for each helium-burning rate, 11B is overproduced and the yield varies by an amount larger than the variation caused by the effects of neutrino oscillations. The total 11B yield, however, may eventually provide constraints on supernova neutrino spectra.