[en] The capabilities of the Sudbury Neutrino Observatory (SNO) to extract neutrino energy and flavour are important tools in providing constraints on supernova models. Another aspect is that the neutrinos precede the visible eruption of the mantle of the star by up to 10 hours. This potentially allows for an early alert to the astronomical community and thus for observation from the earliest moment. In order to ensure a positive alert, several neutrino detectors have formed the SuperNova Early Warning System (SNEWS). A data analysis program to identify neutrinos from a Galactic supernova burst has been installed in the online system at SNO. The program automatically analyzes burst data and it is anticipated that an alert to SNEWS could be issued within minutes. This presentation outlines the potential of SNO for supernova physics and the techniques of the monitoring system in place to maximize the scientific opportunity and to provide a reliable and timely alert to the astronomical community through SNEWS

[en] The neutrinos released by a supernova explosion are an excellent window into the dynamics of the supernova process for which a detailed understanding is one of the remaining challenges for astrophysics. The Sudbury Neutrino Observatory (SNO) is capable of observing Galactic supernovae through the detection of neutrinos. Current supernova models have distinguishing features in their neutrino spectra. SNO's capabilities to extract energy and flavour are important tools in providing constraints on the models. Another aspect is that the neutrinos precede the visible eruption of the mantle of the star by up to 10 hours. This potentially allows for an early alert to the astronomical community and thus for observation from the earliest moment. In order to ensure a positive alert several neutrino detectors have formed the Supernova Early Warning System (SNEWS). A data analysis program to identify neutrinos from a Galactic supernova burst has been installed in the online system at SNO. The program automatically analyzes burst data and it is anticipated that an alert to SNEWS could be issued within 20-30 minutes

No abstract available

[en] The ¹⁵O(α, γ)¹⁹Ne reaction is one of two routes for breakout from the hot CNO cycles into the rp process in accreting neutron stars. Its astrophysical rate depends critically on the decay properties of excited states in ¹⁹Ne lying just above the ¹⁵O + α threshold. We have measured the α-decay branching ratios for these states using the p(²¹Ne,t)¹⁹Ne reaction at 43 MeV/u

[en] Direct K-shell ionization probabilities were measured in coincidence with elastically scattered particles in 30-MeV/u Ne+Sn, Tb, Pb, Th and 8.3-MeV/u C+Zr, Ag, Sn, Sm, Au, Pb, Th reactions. Experimental data were compared with calculations in the semiclassical approximation. The transitional behavior at the reduced velocity ξ_K≅1, where the projectile velocity approaches the velocity of the K-shell electrons, is discussed

No abstract available

[en] The direct use of Computer Aided Design (CAD) models in criticality and shielding codes has been a long standing goal for Sellafield Ltd. Such functionality could offer several advantages over the traditional method of text based modelling systems. Analysts would be able to take advantage of the advanced Graphical User Interface based modelling features provided by solid modelers, potentially reducing the costs associated with creating models in a format suitable for the analyst's criticality and shielding code. A prototype system has been developed that allows CAD models created in Autodesk Inventor or Solidworks to be used in criticality and shielding calculations. The system is based on the ANSI Initial Graphics Exchange Specification 5.3 standard and models are exported from the CAD software in Trimmed NURBS format. The format retains much more of the model's geometrical information than a format based on solid meshing techniques and avoids many of the associated problems such as large memory costs, surface approximations and void spaces. The time consuming and complex meshing process is also avoided. Runtime intersection calculations are performed using either a Bezier clipping process for NURBS based surface definitions, or by transforming the coordinate system through which the ray tracks for Surface of Revolution calculations. NURBS surfaces are therefore converted to Bezier form as the model is imported. In addition, the SR generatrix is, in general, converted to a 'strip tree' representation, allowing the SR intersection calculations to be performed with arbitrary generatrix shapes. Details of recent improvements to the Bezier clipping process are provided. Reduction in runtime of SR based Solidworks models over equivalent NURBS based Autodesk Inventor models is also demonstrated. (authors)

[en] Results are reported from the complete salt phase of the Sudbury Neutrino Observatory experiment in which NaCl was dissolved in the ²H₂O (''D₂O'') target. The addition of salt enhanced the signal from neutron capture as compared to the pure D₂O detector. By making a statistical separation of charged-current events from other types based on event-isotropy criteria, the effective electron recoil energy spectrum has been extracted. In units of 10⁶cm^-2s^-1, the total flux of active-flavor neutrinos from ⁸B decay in the Sun is found to be 4.94_-0.21^+0.21(stat)_-0.34^+0.38(syst) and the integral flux of electron neutrinos for an undistorted ⁸B spectrum is 1.68_-0.06^+0.06(stat)_-0.09^+0.08(syst); the signal from (ν_x,e) elastic scattering is equivalent to an electron-neutrino flux of 2.35_-0.22^+0.22(stat)_-0.15^+0.15(syst). These results are consistent with those expected for neutrino oscillations with the so-called large mixing angle parameters and also with an undistorted spectrum. A search for matter-enhancement effects in the Earth through a possible day-night asymmetry in the charged-current integral rate is consistent with no asymmetry. Including results from other experiments, the best-fit values for two-neutrino mixing parameters are Δm²=(8.0_-0.4^+0.6)x10^-5 eV² and θ=33.9_-2.2^+2.4 degrees

[en] The ¹⁵O(α,γ)¹⁹Ne reaction is one of two routes for breakout from the hot CNO cycles into the rp process in accreting neutron stars. Its astrophysical rate depends critically on the decay properties of excited states in ¹⁹Ne lying just above the ¹⁵O+α threshold. We have measured the α-decay branching ratios for these states using the p(²¹Ne,t)¹⁹Ne reaction at 43 MeV/nucleon. Combining our measurements with previous determinations of the radiative widths of these states, we conclude that no significant breakout from the hot CNO cycle into the rp process in novas is possible via ¹⁵O(α,γ)¹⁹Ne, assuming that current models accurately represent their temperature and density conditions

[en] A search has been made for sinusoidal periodic variations in the ⁸B solar neutrino flux using data collected by the Sudbury Neutrino Observatory over a 4-year time interval. The variation at a period of 1 yr is consistent with modulation of the ⁸B neutrino flux by the Earth's orbital eccentricity. No significant sinusoidal periodicities are found with periods between 1 d and 10 years with either an unbinned maximum likelihood analysis or a Lomb-Scargle periodogram analysis. The data are inconsistent with the hypothesis that the results of the recent analysis by Sturrock et al., based on elastic scattering events in Super-Kamiokande, can be attributed to a 7% sinusoidal modulation of the total ⁸B neutrino flux