What Powers the Sun?
摘要
In April 2007, we began collecting data which are subjected to selection, verification, and energy reconstruction, making it ready for interpretation. Our initial focus was on analyzing signals from the fusion reaction involving Beryllium-7. Before progressing to studying neutrinos emitted by other fusion reactions, we prioritized calibrating the detector and further purifying the scintillator. Once these steps were completed, we resumed data analysis and reconstructed the energy of neutrinos emitted by the Boron-8 reaction, the so-called pep reaction, and the pp reaction—the progenitor of the chain that bears its name. This work was significantly complicated by the presence of residual radioactive contaminants in the scintillator. Despite these challenges, we ultimately succeeded—becoming the first experiment to individually identify the fusion reactions of the solar cycle that emit neutrinos.