Implications of the GALLEX Source Experiment for the Solar Neutrino Problem

Abstract

We argue that, prior to the recent GALLEX ${}^{51}$Cr source experiment, the excited state contributions to the ${}^{71}$Ga capture cross section for ${}^{51}$Cr and ${}^7$Be neutrinos were poorly constrained, despite forward-angle (p,n) measurements. We describe the origin of the uncertainties and estimate their extent. We explore the implications of the source experiment for solar neutrino capture in light of these uncertainties. A reanalysis of the ${}^7$Be and ${}^8$B flux constraints and MSW solutions of the solar neutrino puzzle is presented.

Comments: LaTeX (2.09), 18 p + Fig 2-5 (uuencoded ps file). Contact Authors for Fig 1. Entire ps file avilable by anonymous ftp at ftp://upenn5.hep.upenn.edu/pub/hata/papers/ga_source.ps.Z