Pulsed Geonuclear Energy: A Proposed Mechanism of How Periodic D″ Explosions Recharge Earth's Deep Interior and how this Energy is dissipated

The classical paradigm of terrestrial thermal evolution, which posits Earth as a monotonically cooling heat engine sustained solely by secular cooling and diffuse radiogenic decay, faces severe thermodynamic contradictions when confronted with modern deep-Earth constraints, such as the high thermal conductivity of core-forming iron alloys and an unresolved global thermal deficit of ~ 25 TW. To resolve these paradoxes without discarding established core crystallization physics, we present the Nuclear Explosion Sudden Internal Release (NESIR) framework. In this model, gravitational settling and high-pressure phase separation drive the accumulation of actinide oxides (UO2, ThO2) at the core-mantle boundary (D" layer), utilizing the liquid Fe-Ni outer core as an efficient neutron reflector (tamper). Operating predominantly in a low-intensity subcritical background regime, harmonizing seamlessly with modern geoneutrino observations by KamLAND and Borexino, the deep geonuclear system periodically reaches critical geometry. The resulting episodic, non-linear paroxysmal energy releases (~10^26 per major pulse) are buffered by core crystallization and secular cooling while driving transient superplume advection, Large Igneous Provinces (LIPs), and deep cap-rock seal breaches calibrated by metric soft-sediment deformation structures (SSDS/seismites, Mw ~ 8.8 - 10.2). This dual mechanism unifies the steady-state geodynamo and catastrophic geological events into a self-consistent planetary energy budget, shifting our understanding from a passive cooling model to a dynamically recharged geonuclear system.

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Publication Details

Journal
Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Published
2026-11-07
DOI
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.24045169
Primary Topic
High-pressure geophysics and materials
Type
preprint
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preprint

Pulsed Geonuclear Energy: A Proposed Mechanism of How Periodic D″ Explosions Recharge Earth's Deep Interior and how this Energy is dissipated

Sérgio Meth
2 links
Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
High-pressure geophysics and materials
preprint

Pulsed Geonuclear Energy: A Proposed Mechanism of How Periodic D″ Explosions Recharge Earth's Deep Interior and how this Energy is dissipated

Sérgio Meth
preprint en

Abstract

The classical paradigm of terrestrial thermal evolution, which posits Earth as a monotonically cooling heat engine sustained solely by secular cooling and diffuse radiogenic decay, faces severe thermodynamic contradictions when confronted with modern deep-Earth constraints, such as the high thermal conductivity of core-forming iron alloys and an unresolved global thermal deficit of ~ 25 TW. To resolve these paradoxes without discarding established core crystallization physics, we present the Nuclear Explosion Sudden Internal Release (NESIR) framework. In this model, gravitational settling and high-pressure phase separation drive the accumulation of actinide oxides (UO2, ThO2) at the core-mantle boundary (D" layer), utilizing the liquid Fe-Ni outer core as an efficient neutron reflector (tamper). Operating predominantly in a low-intensity subcritical background regime, harmonizing seamlessly with modern geoneutrino observations by KamLAND and Borexino, the deep geonuclear system periodically reaches critical geometry. The resulting episodic, non-linear paroxysmal energy releases (~10^26 per major pulse) are buffered by core crystallization and secular cooling while driving transient superplume advection, Large Igneous Provinces (LIPs), and deep cap-rock seal breaches calibrated by metric soft-sediment deformation structures (SSDS/seismites, Mw ~ 8.8 - 10.2). This dual mechanism unifies the steady-state geodynamo and catastrophic geological events into a self-consistent planetary energy budget, shifting our understanding from a passive cooling model to a dynamically recharged geonuclear system.

Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Universidade Federal do Pampa (BR)
Affordable and clean energy
High-pressure geophysics and materials
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