Solar Neutrino Science with Borexino

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Solar neutrinos have played a crucial role in the experimental confirmation that neutrinos have mass and oscillate, which is evidence of physics beyond the Standard Model. Borexino is a large solar neutrino detector in operation at the Gran Sasso Laboratory (LNGS), Italy. With its proven sensitivity, high radiopurity and low energy threshold, Borexino has the potential to resolve the solar neutrino energy spectrum into its various components and to probe the transition between vacuum and matter-enhanced oscillations in the ~ MeV energy region. Building on their previous experience, the UMass group will contribute to the scientific goals of Borexino in two areas: (1) data analysis: the PI currently coordinates the US Borexino data analysis effort, focused on a deeper understanding of systematic effects, to reduce the uncertainty on the measured rate of Be-7 neutrinos; and (2) detector stability: as members of the vessel working group, the PIs are experts on the stress patterns and vessel deformations and on the laser diffuser system used for calibration and studies of light propagation properties. These skills will be fundamental to monitor the stability of the detector.The broader impact of the program will provide students with the opportunity to experience research at a unique international physics laboratory, and to have an impact on important scientific results. The PIs will continue to participate in an outreach program that brings high school students from a relatively poor region of Italy to Princeton for a summer program in physics. This program has recently been extended to a group of women and minority high school students from South Dakota.