2004/01/28 by G. Domogatski, G. V. Domogatsky, V. Kopeikin +5 · 2 citations
Physics and Astronomy · #Astrophysics and Cosmic Phenomena #Neutrino Physics Research #Radioactive Decay and Measurement Techniques #hep-ph
paper · pdf · doi:10.1134/1.1858559
published as Phys.Atom.Nucl.68:69-72,2005; Yad.Fiz.68:70-73,2005 · 7 pages in LaTeX, 3 PS figures, Submitted to Physics of Atomic Nuclei
arxiv created 2004/01/28 · openalex publication_date 2005/01/01 · arxiv updated 2009/12/01 · openalex created_date 2016/06/24 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
J.M. Herndon in the 1990s proposed a natural nuclear fission georeactor at the center of the Earth with a power output of 3–10 TW as an energy source to sustain the Earth magnetic field. R. S. Raghavan in 2002 pointed out that, under certain conditions, antineutrinos generated in such a georeactor can be detected using massive scintillation detectors. We consider the underground Baksan Neutrino Observatory (4800 m.w.e.) as a possible site for developments in geoneutrino physics. Here, the intrinsic background level of less than 1 event/yr in a liquid scintillation ∼1000-t target detector can be achieved and the main source of background is the antineutrino flux from power reactors. We find that this flux is ∼10 times lower than at the KamLAND detector site and two times lower than at the Gran Sasso laboratory and thus at Baksan the georeactor hypothesis can be conclusively tested. We also discuss possible searches for the composition of georeactor burning nuclear fuel by analysis of the antineutrino energy spectrum.