Monte Carlo Simulations of a Near-Solar Orbit Neutrino Detector*

A solar neutrino detection experiment in a solar orbit of 7 to 3 solar-radii perihelion could revolutionize solar interior studies. At such proximity, the neutrino flux increases by several orders of magnitude allowing for a much smaller detector design than Earth-based devices. An off-ecliptic orbital location also allows for fusion core geometry studies. To pursue these improvements, a scintillation detector using gallium-doped liquid scintillator and veto array methods has been devised. Neutrino-gallium interactions can result in a sequentially released electron and gamma-ray/X-ray, giving distinct double-pulse signals in the detector. A veto array would filter external-source charged particles. This presentation focuses on Monte Carlo simulations of particle events visible to the detector. The Monte Carlo code incorporates background event rates obtained from Geant4 simulations of the detector assembly, and neutrino interaction rates based on scaling of similar, Earth-based experiments’ performance to the detector’s parameters.  The code output is examined to find the number of true double-pulse signals versus those of false signals. Establishing experiment parameters necessary for a false event detection rate less than 20 percent is a primary goal.