Is it possible to determine the S-factor of the hep process from a laboratory experiment?

2000

We discuss the problem of solar hep neutrinos originating from the reaction p + 3He -> 4He + e+ + nu and obtain a relation between the astrophysical S-factor of the hep process and the cross section of the process e- + 4He -> 3H + n + nu near threshold. The relation is based on the isotopic invariance of strong interactions. The measurement of the latter cross section would allow to obtain experimental information on S(hep), the value of which, at the moment, is known only from theoretical calculations.