Measuring the Global Radioactivity in the Earth by Multidetector Antineutrino Spectroscopy

R. S. Raghavan, S. Schoenert, S. Enomoto, J. Shirai, F. Suekane, and A. Suzuki
Phys. Rev. Lett. 80, 635 – Published 19 January 1998
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Abstract

We show that antineutrino (v¯e) spectroscopy in upcoming detectors in Italy and Japan can be used to measure the separate global abundances of 238U and 232Th, thus 90% of the radiogenic heat in the Earth. Exploiting the unique advantage of their contrasting geological locations, they may also probe differences in U,Th areal densities in the continental and oceanic crusts and the mantle. Bearing directly on the interior of the whole Earth, such data can test, for the first time, the conceptual foundations of the geophysical structure, dynamics, and evolution of the present Earth.

  • Received 15 August 1997

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.80.635

©1998 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

R. S. Raghavan1, S. Schoenert2, S. Enomoto3, J. Shirai3, F. Suekane3, and A. Suzuki3

  • 1Bell Laboratories, Lucent Technologies, Murray Hill, New Jersey 07974
  • 2Technische Universitaet Muenchen, 85748 Garching, Germany
  • 3Tohoku University, Sendai 980-77, Japan

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Vol. 80, Iss. 3 — 19 January 1998

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