Li-loaded directionally sensitive detector for possible geo-neutrinograohic imaging applications

Li-loaded directionally sensitive detector for possible geo-neutrinograohic imaging applications

H.K.M.Tanaka & H.Watanabe

Scientific Reports: http://www.nature.com/srep/2014/140424/srep04708/full/srep04708.html

 Abstract

Despite the latent and unique benefits of imaging uranium and thorium’s distribution in the earth’s interior, previously proposed experimental techniques used to identify the incoming geo-neutrino’s direction are not applicable to practical imaging due to the high miss-identification in a neutrino’s track reconstruction. After performing experimental studies and Monte-Carlo simulations, we confirmed that a significant improvement is possible in neutrino tracking identification with a 6Li-loaded neutrino detector. For possible imaging applications, we also explore the feasibility of producing geo-neutrinographic images of gigantic magmatic reservoirs and deep structure in the mantle. We anticipate and plan to apply these newly designed detectors to radiographic imaging of the Earth’s interior, monitoring of nuclear reactors, and tracking astrophysical sources of neutrinos.