2,877 research outputs found
Radiogenic power and geoneutrino luminosity of the Earth and other terrestrial bodies through time
We report the Earth's rate of radiogenic heat production and (anti)neutrino
luminosity from geologically relevant short-lived radionuclides (SLR) and
long-lived radionuclides (LLR) using decay constants from the geological
community, updated nuclear physics parameters, and calculations of the
spectra. We track the time evolution of the radiogenic power and luminosity of
the Earth over the last 4.57 billion years, assuming an absolute abundance for
the refractory elements in the silicate Earth and key volatile/refractory
element ratios (e.g., Fe/Al, K/U, and Rb/Sr) to set the abundance levels for
the moderately volatile elements. The relevant decays for the present-day heat
production in the Earth ( TW) are from K, Rb,
Sm, Th, U, and U. Given element concentrations
in kg-element/kg-rock and density in kg/m, a simplified equation to
calculate the present day heat production in a rock is: The
radiogenic heating rate of Earth-like material at Solar System formation was
some 10 to 10 times greater than present-day values, largely due to
decay of Al in the silicate fraction, which was the dominant radiogenic
heat source for the first Ma. Assuming instantaneous Earth formation,
the upper bound on radiogenic energy supplied by the most powerful short-lived
radionuclide Al ( = 0.7 Ma) is 5.510 J,
which is comparable (within a factor of a few) to the planet's gravitational
binding energy.Comment: 28 pages, 6 figures, 5 table
Combined analysis of KamLAND and Borexino neutrino signals from Th and U decays in the Earth's interior
The KamLAND and Borexino experiments have detected electron antineutrinos
produced in the decay chains of natural thorium and uranium (Th and U
geoneutrinos). We analyze the energy spectra of current geoneutrino data in
combination with solar and long-baseline reactor neutrino data, with
marginalized three-neutrino oscillation parameters. We consider the case with
unconstrained Th and U event rates in KamLAND and Borexino, as well as cases
with fewer degrees of freedom, as obtained by successively assuming for both
experiments a common Th/U ratio, a common scaling of Th+U event rates, and a
chondritic Th/U value. In combination, KamLAND and Borexino can reject the null
hypothesis (no geoneutrino signal) at 5 sigma. Interesting bounds or
indications emerge on the Th+U geoneutrino rates and on the Th/U ratio, in
broad agreement with typical Earth model expectations. Conversely, the results
disfavor the hypothesis of a georeactor in the Earth's core, if its power
exceeds a few TW. The interplay of KamLAND and Borexino geoneutrino data is
highlighted.Comment: 12 pages, including 6 figure
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Geo-neutrinos
We review a new interdisciplinary field between Geology and Physics: the
study of the Earth's geo-neutrino flux. We describe competing models for the
composition of the Earth, present geological insights into the make up of the
continental and oceanic crust, those parts of the Earth that concentrate Th and
U, the heat producing elements, and provide details of the regional settings in
the continents and oceans where operating and planned detectors are sited.
Details are presented for the only two operating detectors that are capable of
measuring the Earth's geo-neutrinos flux: Borexino and KamLAND; results
achieved to date are presented, along with their impacts on geophysical and
geochemical models of the Earth. Finally, future planned experiments are
highlighted
Geo-neutrinos and Earth Models
We present the current status of geo-neutrino measurements and their
implications for radiogenic heating in the mantle. Earth models predict
different levels of radiogenic heating and, therefore, different geo-neutrino
fluxes from the mantle. Seismic tomography reveals features in the deep mantle
possibly correlated with radiogenic heating and causing spatial variations in
the mantle geo-neutrino flux at the Earth surface. An ocean-based observatory
offers the greatest sensitivity to the mantle flux and potential for resolving
Earth models and mantle features. Refinements to estimates of the geo-neutrino
flux from continental crust reduce uncertainty in measurements of the mantle
flux, especially measurements from land-based observatories. These refinements
enable the resolution of Earth models using the combined measurements from
multiple continental observatories.Comment: 9 pages, 4 figures; Contributed paper TAUP 201
Neutrino Constraints on Inelastic Dark Matter after CDMS II
We discuss the neutrino constraints from solar and terrestrial dark matter
(DM) annihilations in the inelastic dark matter (iDM) scenario after the recent
CDMS II results. To reconcile the DAMA/LIBRA data with constraints from all
other direct experiments, the iDM needs to be light ( GeV) and
have a large DM-nucleon cross section ( 10 pb in the
spin-independent (SI) scattering and 10 pb in the
spin-dependent (SD) scattering). The dominant contribution to the iDM capture
in the Sun is from scattering off Fe/Al in the SI/SD case. Current bounds from
Super-Kamiokande exclude the hard DM annihilation channels, such as ,
, and . For soft channels such as and
, the limits are loose, but could be tested or further constrained
by future IceCube plus DeepCore. For neutrino constraints from the DM
annihilation in the Earth, due to the weaker gravitational effect of the Earth
and inelastic capture condition, the constraint exists only for small mass
splitting 40 keV and GeV even in the channel.Comment: 11 pages, 8 figure
EH3 matrix mineralogy with major and trace element composition compared to chondrules
We investigated the matrix mineralogy in primitive EH3 chondrites Sahara 97072, ALH 84170, and LAR 06252 with transmission electron microscopy; measured the trace and major element compositions of Sahara 97072 matrix and ferromagnesian chondrules with laser-ablation, inductively coupled, plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICPMS); and analyzed the bulk composition of Sahara 97072 with LA-ICPMS, solution ICPMS, and inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy. The fine-grained matrix of EH3 chondrites is unlike that in other chondrite groups, consisting primarily of enstatite, cristobalite, troilite, and kamacite with a notable absence of olivine. Matrix and pyroxene-rich chondrule compositions differ from one another and are distinct from the bulk meteorite. Refractory lithophile elements are enriched by a factor of 1.5-3 in chondrules relative to matrix, whereas the matrix is enriched in moderately volatile elements. The compositional relation between the chondrules and matrix is reminiscent of the difference between EH3 pyroxene-rich chondrules and EH3 Si-rich, highly sulfidized chondrules. Similar refractory element ratios between the matrix and the pyroxene-rich chondrules suggest the fine-grained material primarily consists of the shattered, sulfidized remains of the formerly pyroxene-rich chondrules with the minor addition of metal clasts. The matrix, chondrule, and metal-sulfide nodule compositions are probably complementary, suggesting all the components of the EH3 chondrites came from the same nebular reservoir
Sustainable product development strategies: Business planning and performance implications
Copyright © 2012 by Institution of Mechanical Engineers. This is the author's accepted manuscript. The final published article is available from the link below.Manufacturing firms are under many financial and competitive pressures which focus attention on the performance of their manufacturing processes. In this paper the opportunities for improving the environmental impact of products within the constraints of existing manufacturing infrastructure are examined. Approaches which support sustainability in two aspects are proposed, firstly, the provision of products to the users in ways which extend the product life and secondly, manufacturing approaches which reduce resource usage. This paper outlines three different sustainable development strategies for different product types and describes the cost implications for manufacturers across the life-cycle. The performance measures affected by these strategies are examined drawing on product development case studies from a number of high technology sectors to highlight the different approaches taken. The results are intended to aid manufacturers during the earliest stages of business planning to consider alternative product development approaches which are more sustainable
NASTRAN general purpose interface requirements document
This NASTRAN (NASA STRuctural ANalysis) General Purpose Interface Requirements Document (IRD) defines standards for deliverables required of New Capability Contractors (NCCs) and relates these deliverables to the software development cycle. It also defines standards to be followed by NCCs for adding to and modifying the code in the NASTRAN software system and for adding to and modifying the four official NASTRAN manuals: The NASTRAN Theoretical Manual, the NASTRAN User's Manual, The NASTRAN Programmer's Manual, and The NASTRAN Demonstration Problem Manual. It is intended that this General Purpose IRD shall be incorporated by reference in all contracts for a new NASTRAN capability
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