Measurement of the $ν_e$ and Total $^{8}$B Solar Neutrino Fluxes with the Sudbury Neutrino Observatory Phase I Data Set

Abstract

This article provides the complete description of results from the Phase I data set of the Sudbury Neutrino Observatory (SNO). The Phase I data set is based on a 0.65 kt-year exposure of heavy water to the solar $^8$B neutrino flux. Included here are details of the SNO physics and detector model, evaluations of systematic uncertainties, and estimates of backgrounds. Also discussed are SNO's approach to statistical extraction of the signals from the three neutrino reactions (charged current, neutral current, and elastic scattering) and the results of a search for a day-night asymmetry in the $ν_e$ flux. Under the assumption that the $^8$B spectrum is undistorted, the measurements from this phase yield a solar $ν_e$ flux of $ϕ(ν_e) = 1.76^{+0.05}_{-0.05}{(stat.)}^{+0.09}_{-0.09} {(syst.)} \times 10^{6}$ cm$^{-2}$ s$^{-1}$, and a non-$ν_e$ component $ϕ(ν_{μτ}) = 3.41^{+0.45}_{-0.45}{(stat.)}^{+0.48}_{-0.45} {(syst.)} \times 10^{6}$ cm$^{-2}$ s$^{-1}$. The sum of these components provides a total flux in excellent agreement with the predictions of Standard Solar Models. The day-night asymmetry in the $ν_e$ flux is found to be $A_{e} = 7.0 \pm 4.9 \mathrm{(stat.)^{+1.3}_{-1.2}}% \mathrm{(sys.)}$, when the asymmetry in the total flux is constrained to be zero.