Mon, October 17, 2016
1:30 pm - 2:30 pm
4138 Physics Research Building
Crucial questions about solar neutrinos remain unanswered.
Our knowledge of stellar fusion processes and neutrinos themselves is incomplete. Neutrino detectors such as Super-Kamiokande have the exposure needed, but backgrounds are limiting. A leading background is the beta decays of isotopes produced by cosmic-ray muons and their secondary particles, which initiate nuclear spallation reactions. I will discuss my comprehensive studies of the spallation backgrounds, from calculating their production rates, to understanding their production mechanisms, to how to implement better background rejection methods. I will also discuss how our work will enable better probes of both solar and neutrino physics.