Proton-Proton Fusion in Effective Field Theory to Fifth Order

Abstract

The proton-proton fusion process p p->d e^+ nu_e is calculated at threshold to fifth order in pionless effective field theory. There are two unknown two-body currents contributing at the second and fourth orders. Combined with the previous results for neutrino-deuteron and antineutrino-deuteron scattering, computed to third order in the same approach, we conclude that a 10% measurement of reactor antineutrino-deuteron scattering measurement could constrain the p p->d e^+ nu_e rate to ~7% while a ~3% measurement of nu_e d-> e^- p p could constrain the pp rate to ~2%.