Feasibility of a Nuclear Fission Reactor at the Center of the Earth as the Energy Source for the Geomagnetic Field

Abstract

Ideas have previously been advanced suggesting the possibility that uranium exists within the Earth's core. In. the present paper, evidence is presented for the existence within the Earth's core of substantial quantities of uranium and thorium. The concept of an accumulation of uranium in the core of the Earth functioning as a nuclear fission breeder reactor is presented. Means for concentrating actinide elements within the Earth's core and for separating actinide elements from reactor poisons are disclosed. Nuclear reactor feasibility is demonstrated by Fermi's k∞ in excess of unity for times in the geological past. The concept that the Earth's geomagnetic dynamo is driven by nuclear fission energy is discussed as is the concept that the frequent, but irregular, polarity reversals of the geomagnetic field have their origins in intermittent nuclear reactor output. Although great uncertainty exists in estimates of the abundances of the actinide elements in the core of the Earth and in details of the chemistry of the core, the results of the present paper indicate if uranium and thorium exist in the core of the Earth as elements or compounds, as evidence indicates, the actinides: (1) would be the most dense matter in the Earth; (2) would tend to concentrate at the center of the Earth; (3) would tend to be separated on the basis of density from less dense reactor poisons; and (4) if accumulated 3000 million years ago, would be able to initiate self-sustaining nuclear fission chain reactions which may continue to the present through fuel breeding reactions. The magnitude of available nuclear fission energy release throughout geological time is of major geophysical importance and is more than sufficient to power the geomagnetic field.