Geoneutrinos and the Earth inner parts structure

TL;DR

This paper explores how geoneutrino detection can test Earth's internal structure hypotheses, comparing standard lithosphere models with the hydride Earth hypothesis, and proposes a detector at Baksan to measure neutrino fluxes from Earth's interior.

Contribution

It introduces the idea of using a large scintillation detector to distinguish between different Earth composition models through geoneutrino measurements.

Findings

Potential to identify additional neutrino sources in Earth's core.

Feasibility of measuring radioactivity from uranium and thorium via neutrino fluxes.

Proposal for a detector setup at Baksan neutrino observatory.

Abstract

The connection between geoneutrino registration and the Earth theory test is discussed. We compare standard theory of lithosphere plates and hypothesis of hydride Earth. Last hypothesis adds additional neutrino source $-$ planet core in which the initial Earth composition is conserved. Large volume scintillation detector is supposed to install at Baksan neutrino observatory INR RAS at Caucasus. The detector will register all possible neutrino fluxes, but mainly geo-neutrinos. So kind a detector (or detector net) placed in a number of sites on the Earth surface can measure all radioactivity from $^{238}$U and $^{232}$Th, because their neutrino energy exceeds the inverse beta-decay reaction threshold. By this way it will it possible to understand if there are any more neutrino sources in the Earth other than the crust and mantle.