Correlative aspects of the solar electron neutrino flux and solar activity

Between 1970 and 1994, the Homestake Solar Neutrino Detector obtained 108 observations of the solar electron neutrino flux (greater than 0.814 MeV). The "best fit" values derived from these observations suggest an average daily production rate of about 0.485 Ar-37 atom per day, a rate equivalent to about 2.6 SNU (solar neutrino units) or about a factor of 3 below the expected rate from the standard solar model. In order to explain, at least, a portion of this discrepancy, many researchers have speculated that the flux of solar neutrinos is variable, possibly being correlated with certain markers of the solar cycle (specifically, sunspot number and the Ap index). Indeed, previous studies, on the basis of shorter time intervals or data averaged in particular ways, often found evidence supportive for preferential behavior between the solar neutrino flux and solar activity. In this paper, using the larger "standard data set" and run-length-adjusted averages, the notion of preferential behavior between solar electron neutrino flux and solar activity is reexamined. The results clearly show that no statistically meaningful associations exist between the solar electron neutrino flux and any of the usual markers of solar activity, including sunspot number, the Ap index, the Deep River neutron monitor counts (cosmic rays), solar irradiance, and the number or size of solar energetic events (flares).