How much uranium is in the Earth? Predictions for geoneutrinos at KamLAND

Abstract

Geo-neutrino detection can determine the amount of long-lived radioactive elements within our planet, thus providing a direct test of the Bulk Silicate Earth (BSE) model and fixing the radiogenic contribution to the terrestrial heat. We present a prediction for the geo-neutrino signal at KamLAND as a function of the Uranium mass in the Earth. The prediction is based on global mass balance, supplemented by a detailed geochemical and geophysical study of the region near the detector. The prediction is weakly dependent on mantle modeling. If BSE is correct, Uranium geo-neutrinos will produce between 25 and 35 events per year and 10 32 protons at Kamioka.

U and Th content in the Central Apennines continental crust: A contribution to the determination of the geo-neutrinos flux at LNGS

“…We can subtract from this value the amount of heat flux produced by U and Th (and K) contained within the SC (4.5 ± 1.6 mW/m 2 ) and the UC (18 ± 8.1 mW/m 2 ), using the abundances and the thickness already calculated and the atomic elemental heat production obtained by Fiorentini et al (2005). The Upper Mantle temperature at the Moho depth can be determined based on thermo-barometric estimates of two mantle xenoliths suites (Veneto Volcanic Province and Iblei, Beccaluva et al, 2005).…”

Geoantineutrino spectrum and slow nuclear burning on the boundary of the liquid and solid phases of the Earth's core

“…[32] It is obvious that the difference between the real heat (which is produced now in the Earth) and the calculated heat (i.e., a radiogenic heat in the framework of the Bulk Silicate Earth model [Hofmeister and Criss, 2005]) is very signif- He ratio, an important ingredient of the Earth's energetics will be established [Fiorentini et al, 2004[Fiorentini et al, , 2005.…”

KamLAND results and the radiogenic terrestrial heat

“…The connection between the signal of geo-neutrinos from the Uranium decay c hain, the mass of Uranium in the Earth and the heat production rate from that element w as found in ref. 3], by using global mass balance together with a detailed geochemical and geophysical study of the region surrounding Kamioka.…”