Regional study of the Archean to Proterozoic crust at the Sudbury Neutrino Observatory (SNO+), Ontario: Predicting the geoneutrino flux

TL;DR

This study develops a detailed 3-D regional crust model around the SNO+ detector to accurately predict geoneutrino flux, enhancing understanding of Earth's radiogenic heat contribution.

Contribution

It introduces a comprehensive regional crust model integrating geological, geophysical, and geochemical data for geoneutrino flux prediction at SNO+.

Findings

Predicted U and Th abundances with quantified uncertainties.

Estimated regional crustal geoneutrino signal at SNO+.

Improved understanding of Earth's radiogenic heat contribution.

Abstract

The SNO+ detector, a new kiloton scale liquid scintillator detector capable of recording geoneutrino events, will define the strength of the Earth radiogenic heat. A detailed 3-D model of the regional crust, centered at SNO+ and based on compiled geological, geophysical and geochemical information, was used to characterize the physical and chemical attributes of crust and assign uncertainties to its structure. Monte Carlo simulations were used to predict the U and Th abundances and uncertainties in crustal lithologies and to model the regional crustal geoneutrino signal originating from the at SNO+.