A proposed determination of radiogenic heating within the earth by measurement of the associated terrestrial antineutrino flux
The radioactive decays of the unstable elements in the uranium and thorium decay chains and the decays of {sup 40}K and {sup 87}Rb are though to be the chief source of heating within the earth. However, their bulk abundances are not known with any certainty. Antineutrinos are released in the decays of the beta-unstable daughters of uranium and thorium and the decays of {sup 40}K and {sup 87}Rb. A measurement of the flux and energy of these antineutrinos would provide a direct measurement of the bulk abundances of these elements and radiogenic heating within the earth. To detect these terrestrial antineutrinos, a large (several KTon) underground lithium loaded liquid scintillation detector is proposed. The detector would possess directional sensitivity to the incident antineutrino by measurement of the spatial separation between the emitted particles in the p + {anti {upsilon}} capture reaction. Thus, antineutrinos of terrestrial origin would be distinguishable from those of extraterrestrial origin. Results of differential timing measurements in a small scintillation cell and monte carlo simulations of antineutrino detection indicate the feasibility of such a detector.
- Research Organization:
- Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO (United States)
- OSTI ID:
- 121147
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: TH: Thesis (Ph.D.); PBD: 1992
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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