9315036 Crawford This award will support a graduate student to investigate the feasibility of using naturally occurring neutrinos to map the density distribution through the Earth's mantle and core. Theoretical investigations show that it is possible to determine variations in density - and possibly composition - as a function of depth by measuring the absorption of neutrinos passing through the planet. By taking advantage of the initial deployment of the DUMAND II detector array, the PIs and graduate student will be able to document experimentally the practical utility of this method. The outcome of this project could revolutionize our understanding of the geodynamical and geochemical evolution of the Earth's deep interior. ****
