Geoneutrinos

The principal source of energy for dynamic processes of the earth, such as plate tectonics, is thought to come from the radioactive decays of uranium, thorium, and potassium within the earth. These decays produce electron-antineutrinos, so-called geo-neutrinos, the measurement of which near the earth's surface allows for a direct measure of the total radiogenic heat generation in the earth. The KamLAND and Borexino experiments have both recently measured a geo-neutrino flux significantly greater than zero. I will discuss how these and future measurements can constrain our knowledge of the earth.