Has a Standard Physics Solution to the Solar Neutrino Problem Been Found? - a Response

TL;DR

This paper defends Dar and Shaviv's improved standard solar model, arguing that Bahcall et al.'s refutation is invalid due to differences in nuclear cross sections and physics details.

Contribution

It clarifies that the critique by Bahcall et al. is unjustified because they did not replicate the same physics inputs and improvements in their calculations.

Findings

Dar and Shaviv's model suggests a standard physics solution to the solar neutrino problem.

Bahcall et al.'s refutation failed due to differences in nuclear cross sections and physics details.

The importance of consistent physics inputs in solar model calculations is emphasized.

Abstract

In a recent paper Dar and Shaviv (1994) presented results of calculations with an improved standard solar model (SSM) that suggest a standard physics solution to the solar neutrino problem. In a subsequent publication with a similar title Bahcall et al. (1994) have claimed to refute the results obtained by Dar and Shaviv. Here we show that the criticism and conclusions of Bahcall et al. are unjustified. In particular, their attempts to reproduce the results of Dar and Shaviv failed because they did not use the same nuclear cross sections and did not include in their calculations major physics improvements which were included in the improved SSM code used by Dar and Shaviv.