Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Neutrino tomography of Earth

nature.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

41–45 of 45 posts

Re: Neutrino tomography of Earth

#41

Post by godelski »

phkahler wrote: post #40
godelski wrote: post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There are other types of neutrino detectors. Not that it really makes the problem any easier to solve, but this isn't the only way.

That's what I was thinking. They have sent neutrinos from one lab to another with a man-made source and a detector smaller than 1km^3. The idea is to put a strong source in orbit and aim it at an orbiting detector. Over time this configuration would be used to scan the entire planet. Still a huge challenge.

That's essentially the main idea most people come to. Using a source so you can concentrate on specific ones and not get distracted by solar, cosmic, or terrestrial neutrinos. Or you could just use terrestrial ones. But still, that detector is the hardest part to figure out.

Re: Neutrino tomography of Earth

#42

Post by logfromblammo »

dotancohen wrote: post #36
logfromblammo wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You might be able to tow it in from elsewhere using a light sail, however. Beyond our current technology, but might be doable by 2100, or sooner with a fortuitous comet trajectory.

And once it is in orbit, how do you propose stationkeeping against exospheric drag? Preferably a solution that will remain reliable for 10^n (n>>3) years.

A cubic kilometer of ice is 9.167e11 kg.

Also, just keep the orbit above 800km, and the light sail will still be able to counteract its own drag.

If the orbit gets too low, turn the ice into rocket fuel and use it to refuel ships boosting into higher orbits.

Re: Neutrino tomography of Earth

#43

Post by dotancohen »

logfromblammo wrote: post #42
dotancohen wrote: post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And once it is in orbit, how do you propose stationkeeping against exospheric drag? Preferably a solution that will remain reliable for 10^n (n>>3) years.

A cubic kilometer of ice is 9.167e11 kg. Also, just keep the orbit above 800km, and the light sail will still be able to counteract its own drag. If the orbit gets too low, turn the ice into rocket fuel and use it to refuel ships boosting into higher orbits.

I'm pretty sure that a cubic kilometer of ice in orbit would have more value in other purposes than as a neutrino detector!

Re: Neutrino tomography of Earth

#44

Post by logfromblammo »

dotancohen wrote: post #43
logfromblammo wrote: post #42

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A cubic kilometer of ice is 9.167e11 kg. Also, just keep the orbit above 800km, and the light sail will still be able to counteract its own drag. If the orbit gets too low, turn the ice into rocket fuel and use it to refuel ships boosting into higher orbits.

I'm pretty sure that a cubic kilometer of ice in orbit would have more value in other purposes than as a neutrino detector!

Sure, but as long as it's up there, might as well use it in every way possible.

Re: Neutrino tomography of Earth

#45

Post by posterboy »

cozzyd wrote: post #7
gpuhacker wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

An in space detector is (at least to my understanding) not that easy, as you need the surface of the Earth to interact with the neutrinos. These interactions result in muons, which allow to detect that there was a neutrino in the first place. Also, there is a pretty big source for neutrinos pretty close to Earth, but Earth is in its orbit, as opposed to the other way around.

The muons are produced in the upper atmosphere (from cosmic rays interacting with the atmosphere). You can't do this in space. Not too mention the size of a neutrino detector, although you can use the e.g. regolith of the moon as a neutrino detector (via the Askaryan effect). In fact there are experiments pointing radio telescopes at the moon to look for ultra-high-energy neutrino interactions. My not-so-polite term…

> lunatics

Oh you :)

Post reply on HN