Deep-Earth reactor: Nuclear fission, helium, and the geomagnetic field

2001/09/18 by D.F. Hollenbach, J. Marvin Herndon · 2 citations
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Physics and Astronomy · Earth and Planetary Sciences · #Geomagnetism and Paleomagnetism Studies #Planetary Science and Exploration #High-pressure geophysics and materials #Nuclear fission #Earth's magnetic field #Fission #Helium #Fission products #Nuclear engineering #Nuclear physics #Neutron #Environmental science #Physics #Atomic physics #Magnetic field

paper · pdf · doi:10.1073/pnas.201393998

openalex publication_date 2001/09/18 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/02

Abstract

Geomagnetic field reversals and changes in intensity are understandable from an energy standpoint as natural consequences of intermittent and/or variable nuclear fission chain reactions deep within the Earth. Moreover, deep-Earth production of helium, having (3)He/(4)He ratios within the range observed from deep-mantle sources, is demonstrated to be a consequence of nuclear fission. Numerical simulations of a planetary-scale geo-reactor were made by using the SCALE sequence of codes. The results clearly demonstrate that such a geo-reactor (i) would function as a fast-neutron fuel breeder reactor; (ii) could, under appropriate conditions, operate over the entire period of geologic time; and (iii) would function in such a manner as to yield variable and/or intermittent output power.

Citations

• Natural fission reactors in the Franceville basin, Gabon: A review of the conditions and results of a “critical event” in a geologic system
• A three-dimensional self-consistent computer simulation of a geomagnetic field reversal
• Substructure of the inner core of the Earth.

Cited by

• Science Potential of a Deep Ocean Antineutrino Observatory
• Earth's magnetic field [wikipedia]