Theoretical Antineutrino Detection, Direction and Ranging at Long Distances

TL;DR

This paper introduces a method called NUDAR for passive neutrino detection that can determine the location and power of distant neutrino sources using a large detector, with implications for geophysics and reactor monitoring.

Contribution

It presents a novel Bayesian framework for neutrino source localization and power estimation, incorporating detailed background models and neutrino oscillation effects.

Findings

Reactor geolocation is feasible at ranges up to a few hundred kilometers.

A 138 kt detector can estimate a 300 MWth reactor's location and power.

Modest improvements in neutrino direction measurement significantly enhance detection capabilities.

Abstract

In this paper we introduce the concept of what we call "NUDAR" (NeUtrino Direction and Ranging), making the point that measurements of the observed energy and direction vectors can be employed to passively deduce the exact three-dimensional location and thermal power of geophysical and anthropogenic neutrino sources from even a single detector. We present the most precise background estimates to date, all handled in full three dimensions, as functions of depth and geographical location. For the present calculations, we consider a hypothetical 138 kiloton detector which can be transported to an ocean site and deployed to an operational depth. We present a Bayesian estimation framework to incorporate any a priori knowledge of the reactor that we are trying to detect, as well as the estimated uncertainty in the background and the oscillation parameters. Most importantly, we fully employ the knowledge of the reactor spectrum and the distance-dependent effects of neutrino oscillations on such spectra. The latter, in particular, makes possible determination of range from one location, given adequate signal statistics. Further, we explore the rich potential of improving detection with even modest improvements in individual neutrino direction determination. We conclude that a 300 MWth reactor can indeed be geolocated, and its operating power estimated with one or two detectors in the hundred kiloton class at ranges out to a few hundred kilometers. We note that such detectors would have natural and non-interfering utility for scientific studies of geo-neutrinos, neutrino oscillations, and astrophysical neutrinos. This motivates the development of cost effective methods of constructing and deploying such next generation detectors.