On a possibility to determine the S-factor of the hep process in experiments with thermal (cold) neutrons

The problem of the magnitude of the S-factor of the hep process p + He-3 He-4 + e(+) + v(e) is one of the most important unsolved problems in nuclea r astrophysics. The magnitude of S(hep) has also an important impact on the interpretation of the Super-Kamiokande and future SNO solar neutrino resul ts in terms of neutrino oscillations. We point out the possibility to deter mine the major hadronic contribution to S(hep) from the measurement of the total cross-section of the process n + H-3 --> He-4 + e(-) + <(<nu>)over ba r>(e) in experiments with high intensity beams of thermal or cold neutrons. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.