Letter | Published:

Weakly interacting massive particles, solar neutrinos, and solar oscillations

Nature 321, 229–231 (1986) | Download Citation

Subjects

Abstract

Weakly interacting, massive particles (WIMPs) have recently been proposed as a solution to the solar neutrino problem1–3. Whereas standard solar models consistently predict a detection rate of (high-energy) neutrinos 3 times higher than that observed in the Davis experiment4–6, the presence of hypothetical massive particles in the solar centre would resolve this discrepancy. Models which incorporate a relative number of 10−11 WIMPs with appropriate scattering cross-section would reduce the predicted neutrino detections by 37Cl to the observed value, without significant changes in the solar structure outside the central region1–3. We have subjected these models to an observational test of p–mode oscillation frequencies by computing frequency differences of low-degree, high-order oscillation frequencies. Although standard solar models also pass this test, WIMP models provide a better fit.

Access optionsAccess options

Rent or Buy article

Get time limited or full article access on ReadCube.

from$8.99

Rent or Buy

All prices are NET prices.

References

  1. 1

    Spergel, D. N. & Press, W. H. Astrophys. J. 294, 663–673 (1985).

  2. 2

    Faulkner, J. & Gilliland, R. L. Astrophys. J. 299, 994–1000 (1985).

  3. 3

    Gilliland, R. L., Faulkner, J., Press, W. H. & Spergel, D. N. Astrophys. J. (in the press).

    • 4

      Davis, R., Harmer, D. S. & Hoffman, K. C. Phys. Rev. Lett. 20, 1205–1209 (1968).

    • 5

      Bahcall, J. N., Huebner, W. F., Lubow, S. H., Parker, P. D. & Ulrich, R. K. Rev. Mod. Phys. 54, 767–799 (1982).

    • 6

      Bahcall, J. N., Cleveland, B. T., Davis, R. Jr & Rowley, J. K. Astrophys. J. 292, L79–82 (1985).

    • 7

      Schatzman, E., Maeder, A., Angrand, F. & Glowinski, R. Astr. Astrophys. 96, 1–16. (1981).

    • 8

      Provost, J. Observational Tests of Stellar Evolution Theory (eds Maeder, A. & Renzini, A.) 47–65 (Reidel, Dordrecht, 1984).

      • 9

        Tassoul, M. Astrophys. J. Suppl. Ser. 43, 469–490 (1980).

      • 10

        Christensen-Dalsgaard, J. Seismology of the Sun and the Distant Stars (ed. Gough, D. O.) 23–53 (Reidel, Dordrecht, 1986).

        • 11

          Gough, D. O. Phys. Bull. 34, 502–507 (1983).

        • 12

          Christensen-Dalsgaard, J. Space Research Prospects in Stellar Activity and Variability (eds Mangeney, A. & Praderie, F.) 11–46 (Observatoire de Paris, 1984).

          • 13

            Scherrer, P. H., Wilcox, J. M., Christensen-Dalsgaard, J. & Gough, D. O. Sol. Phys. 82, 75–87 (1983).

          • 14

            Gough, D. O. Adv. Space Res. 4, 85–102 (1984).

          • 15

            Christensen-Dalsgaard, J. Mon. Not. R. astr. Soc. 194, 229–250 (1981).

          • 16

            Christensen-Dalsgaard, J. Mon. Not. R. astr. Soc. 199, 735–761 (1982).

          • 17

            Claverie, A., Isaak, G. R., McLeod, C. P., van der Raay, H. B. & Roca Cortes, T. Nature 293, 443–445 (1981).

          • 18

            Grec, G., Fossat, E. & Pomerantz, M. Sol. Phys. 82, 55–66 (1983).

          • 19

            Duvall, T. L. & Harvey, J. W. Nature 302, 24–27 (1983).

          • 20

            Kuhn, J. R., Libbrecht, K. G. & Dicke, R. H. Nature 319, 128–131 (1986).

          • 21

            Delache, P. & Scherrer, P. H. Nature 306, 651–653 (1983).

          • 22

            van der Raay, H. B., Palle, P. L., Roca Cortes, T. Seismology of the Sun and the Distant Stars (ed. Gough, D. O.) 215–221 (Reidel, Dordrecht, 1986).

            • 23

              Faulkner, J., Gough, D. O. & Vahia, M. N. Nature (this issue).

              Download references

              Author information

              Affiliations

              1. High Altitude Observatory, NCAR, PO Box 3000, Boulder, Colorado, 80307, USA

                • W. Däppen
                •  & R. L. Gilliland

              2. Astronomisk Institut, Aarhus Universitet, DK-8000, Aarhus C, Denmark

                • J. Christensen-Dalsgaard

              Authors

              1. Search for W. Däppen in:

              2. Search for R. L. Gilliland in:

              3. Search for J. Christensen-Dalsgaard in:

              To obtain permission to re-use content from this article visit RightsLink.

              About this article

              Publication history

              Received

              Accepted

              Issue Date

              DOI

              https://doi.org/10.1038/321229a0

              Further reading

              Comments

              By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.