Piecing the solar neutrino puzzle together at SNO

We perform an oscillation parameter-independent analysis of solar neutrino flux measurements from which we predict the charged-current rate at SNO relative to Standard Solar Model to be RSNOCC=0.35+0.16−0.090.46+0.13−0.11 for oscillations to active (sterile) neutrinos. By alternately considering the 8B flux normalization fixed and free, we find that the flux measured by Super-Kamiokande (SK) not being a result of oscillations is strongly disfavored for oscillations to active neutrinos. SNO will determine the best-fit value of the 8B flux normalization β (equal to the neutral-current rate), without recourse to neutral-current measurements, from the derived relation β=RSNONC=5.85 RSK−4.85 RSNOCC. Using a simple parameterization of the fraction of high, intermediate, and low energy solar neutrinos starting above resonance, we reproduce the results of global analyses to good accuracy; we find that the LMA solution with a normal mass hierarchy is clearly favored. With β free, our analysis for oscillations to active neutrinos gives RSNONC=β=1.34±0.34, which corresponds to RSNOCC=0.28±0.07.