Precision measurement of neutrino oscillation parameters and investigation of nuclear georeactor hypothesis with KamLAND

Citation

Zhang, Chao (2011) Precision measurement of neutrino oscillation parameters and investigation of nuclear georeactor hypothesis with KamLAND. Dissertation (Ph.D.), California Institute of Technology. http://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechTHESIS:06102010-171034096

Abstract

A combined analysis of examining the neutrino oscillation parameters and investigation of nuclear georeactor hypothesis with the KamLAND experiement is presented. With a total exposure of 2.75 kton-years, 930 anti-electron-neutrino candidate events above 3.4 MeV neutrino energy threshold were detected, with estimated 109±13 events from backgrounds. Assuming CPT invariance by combining with solar neutrino results, the best-fit value of georeactor fission power is 4.9^(+3.8)_(-4.8) TW. The 90% upper limit on the georeactor power is determined to be 11.2 TW. This result has put a significant constraint on the contribution of a possible georeactor to the total heat from the Earth. The best-fit values of the neutrino oscillation parameters, including the georeactor power as a free parameter, is consistent with KamLAND's previously published results with null-georeactor assumption.

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