Solar neutrinos and the sun

TL;DR

This paper updates standard solar models with recent nuclear fusion data, compares helioseismic results for different compositions, and discusses the importance of measuring CNO neutrino fluxes to distinguish between models.

Contribution

It provides updated solar models incorporating new fusion rates and analyzes the potential of CNO neutrino measurements to differentiate solar compositions.

Findings

Current neutrino data cannot distinguish between high and low metallicity models.

Helioseismic results vary with composition but are inconclusive for model differentiation.

Measuring CNO neutrino fluxes is crucial for resolving solar composition uncertainties.

Abstract

We present updated standard solar models (SSMs) that incorporate the latest results for nuclear fusion rates, recently published. We show helioseismic results for high and low metallicity compositions and also for an alternative set of solar abundance, derived from 3D model atmospheres, which give intermediate results. For the high and low metallicity models, we show that current solar neutrino data can not differentiate between models and that a measurement of the CNO fluxes is necessary to achieve that goal. A few additional implications of a hypothetical measurement of CNO neutrinos, both in terms of solar and stellar physics, are discussed.