Chlorine-37
Isotope of chlorine
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Remarkably, solar neutrinos were discovered by an experiment (Homestake Experiment) using a radiochemical method based on chlorine-37 transmutation.
Neutrino detection
One of the historically important radiochemical methods of solar neutrino detection is based on inverse electron capture triggered by the absorption of an electron neutrino. Chlorine-37 transmutes into argon-37 via the reaction
- 37
Cl + ν
e → 37
Ar + e−
.
Argon-37 then decays via electron capture (half-life 35.01 days) into chlorine-37 via the reaction
- 37
Ar + e−
→ 37
Cl + ν
e.
The detection of these electrons confirms that a neutrino event occurred. Detection methods involve several hundred thousand liters of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) or tetrachloroethylene (C2Cl4) stored in underground tanks.