Hanohano:A Deep Ocean Antineutrino Observatory

TL;DR

The paper discusses the design and scientific goals of a deep ocean antineutrino observatory capable of measuring neutrino properties and Earth's interior composition, with flexible deployment for diverse geophysical and particle physics research.

Contribution

It introduces a relocatable deep ocean observatory that enables precise neutrino measurements and geophysical studies, advancing both neutrino physics and earth science.

Findings

Potential to determine neutrino mass hierarchy and mixing angles.

Ability to measure Earth's mantle uranium and thorium decay flux.

Search for natural fission reactors in Earth's core.

Abstract

This paper presents the science potential of a deep ocean antineutrino observatory being developed at Hawaii and elsewhere. The observatory design allows for relocation from one site to another. Positioning the observaory some 60 km distant from a nuclear reactor complex enables preecision measurement of neutrino mixing parameters, leading to a determination of neutrino mass hierarchy and theta_13. At a mid-Pacific location, the observatory measures the flux of uranium and thorium decay series antineutrinos from earth's mantle and performs a sensitive search for a hypothetical natural fission reactor in earth's core. A subequent deployment at another mid-ocean location would test lateral homogeneity of uranium and thorium in earth's mantle. These measurements have significance for earth energy studies.