The KamLAND and Borexino experiments have observed, each at ∼ 4σ level, signals of electron antineutrinos produced in the decay chains of thorium and uranium in the Earth’s crust and mantle (Th and U geoneutrinos). Various pieces of geochemical and geophysical information allow an estimation of the crustal geoneutrino flux components with relatively small uncertainties. The mantle component may then be inferred by subtracting the estimated crustal flux from the measured total flux. On the base of this approach we find that crustsubtracted signals show hints of a residual mantle component, emerging at ∼ 2.4σ level by combining the KamLAND and Borexino data. The inferred mantle flux slightly favors scenarios with relatively high Th and U abundances, within ±1σ.
Exploring the Earth's mantle with geoneutrinos.
FIORENTINI, Giovanni;MANTOVANI, Fabio;XHIXHA, Gerti
2013
Abstract
The KamLAND and Borexino experiments have observed, each at ∼ 4σ level, signals of electron antineutrinos produced in the decay chains of thorium and uranium in the Earth’s crust and mantle (Th and U geoneutrinos). Various pieces of geochemical and geophysical information allow an estimation of the crustal geoneutrino flux components with relatively small uncertainties. The mantle component may then be inferred by subtracting the estimated crustal flux from the measured total flux. On the base of this approach we find that crustsubtracted signals show hints of a residual mantle component, emerging at ∼ 2.4σ level by combining the KamLAND and Borexino data. The inferred mantle flux slightly favors scenarios with relatively high Th and U abundances, within ±1σ.I documenti in SFERA sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
