Solar neutrinos, helioseismology and the solar internal dynamics

Abstract

Neutrinos are fundamental particles ubiquitous in the Universe. Their properties remain elusive despite more than 50 years of intense research activity. In this review we remind the reader of the noticeable properties of these particles and of the stakes of the solar neutrino puzzle. The Standard Solar Model triggered persistent efforts in fundamental Physics to predict the solar neutrino fluxes, and its constantly evolving predictions have been regularly compared to the detected neutrino signals. Anticipating that this standard model could not reproduce the internal solar dynamics, a SEismic Solar Model was developed which enriched theoretical neutrino flux predictions with in situ observation of acoustic waves propagating in the Sun. This review reminds the historical steps, from the pioneering Homestake detection, the GALLEX- SAGE captures of the first pp neutrinos and emphasizes the importance of the Superkamiokande and SNO detectors to demonstrate that the solar-emitted electronic neutrinos are partially transformed into other neutrino flavors before reaching the Earth. The success of BOREXINO in detecting the 7 Be neutrino signal justifies the building of a new generation of detectors to measure the entire solar neutrino spectrum. A coherent picture emerged from neutrino physics and helioseismology. Today, new paradigms take shape: determining the masses of neutrinos and the research on the Sun is focusing on the dynamical aspects and on signature of dark matter. The third part of the review is dedicated to this prospect. The understanding of the crucial role of both rotation and magnetism in solar physics benefit from SoHO, SDO, and PICARD space observations. For now, the particle and stellar challenges seem decoupled, but this is only a superficial appearance. The development of asteroseismology shows the far-reaching impact of Neutrino and Stellar Astronomy.Comment: 60 pages, 12 figures Invited review in press in Report on Progress in Physic