Science and Technology of BOREXINO: A Real Time Detector for Low Energy Solar Neutrinos SOLAR NEUTRINOS

TL;DR

BOREXINO is an advanced real-time detector designed for low-energy solar neutrino spectroscopy, utilizing innovative ultra-pure scintillation technology to measure 7Be neutrinos and address fundamental questions in physics and astrophysics.

Contribution

The paper introduces a novel ultra-pure scintillation detector technology enabling sub-MeV solar neutrino measurements for the first time.

Findings

Design of BOREXINO and its facilities

Background suppression capabilities

Potential impact on solar neutrino problem

Abstract

BOREXINO, a real-time device for low energy neutrino spectroscopy is nearing completion of construction in the underground laboratories at Gran Sasso, Italy (LNGS). The experiment's goal is the direct measurement of the flux of 7Be solar neutrinos of all flavors via neutrino-electron scattering in an ultra-pure scintillation liquid. Seeded by a series of innovations which were brought to fruition by large scale operation of a 4-ton test detector at LNGS, a new technology has been developed for BOREXINO. It enables sub-MeV solar neutrino spectroscopy for the first time. This paper describes the design of BOREXINO, the various facilities essential to its operation, its spectroscopic and background suppression capabilities and a prognosis of the impact of its results towards resolving the solar neutrino problem. BOREXINO will also address several other frontier questions in particle physics, astrophysics and geophysics.