High efficiency gaseous tracking detector for cosmic muon radiography

A tracking detector system has been constructed with an innovative approach to the classical multi-wire proportional chamber concept, using contemporary technologies. The detectors, covering an area of 0.58 square meters each, are optimized for the application of muon radiography. The main features are high (>99.5%) and uniform detection efficiency, 9 mm FWHM position resolution, filling gas consumption below 2 liters per hour for the non toxic, non flammable argon and carbon dioxide mixture. These parameters, along with the simplicity of the construction and the tolerance for mechanical effects, make the detectors to be a viable option for a large area muography observation system.

[1]  M. Iwasaki,et al.  Method of probing inner-structure of geophysical substance with the horizontal cosmic-ray muons and possible application to volcanic eruption prediction , 1995 .

[2]  L. Oláh,et al.  Close Cathode Chamber technology for cosmic particle tracking , 2015 .

[3]  L. Oláh,et al.  Portable cosmic muon telescope for environmental applications , 2012 .

[4]  O. C. Allkofer,et al.  Cosmic rays on earth. , 1984 .

[5]  L. Oláh,et al.  CCC-based muon telescope for examination of natural caves , 2012 .

[6]  Steven Greene,et al.  Cosmic ray radiography of the damaged cores of the Fukushima reactors. , 2012, Physical review letters.

[7]  F. Coren,et al.  Underground cosmic-ray measurement for morphological reconstruction of the “Grotta Gigante” natural cave , 1997 .

[8]  G. Hamar,et al.  Cosmic muon detector using proportional chambers , 2015, 1507.07686.

[9]  Konstantin N. Borozdin,et al.  Surveillance: Radiographic imaging with cosmic-ray muons , 2003, Nature.

[10]  Dominique Gibert,et al.  An experiment of muon radiography at Mt Etna (Italy) , 2014 .

[11]  Hiroshi Tsuji,et al.  High resolution imaging in the inhomogeneous crust with cosmic-ray muon radiography: The density structure below the volcanic crater floor of Mt. Asama, Japan , 2007 .

[12]  T. Nakano,et al.  Development of an emulsion imaging system for cosmic-ray muon radiography to explore the internal structure of a volcano, Mt. Asama , 2007 .

[13]  N. Naganawa,et al.  Experimental study of source of background noise in muon radiography using emulsion film detectors , 2013 .

[14]  G. Hamar,et al.  Asymmetric Multi-Wire Proportional Chamber with reduced requirements to mechanical precision , 2011 .

[15]  Nolwenn Lesparre,et al.  Density muon radiography of La Soufrière of Guadeloupe volcano: comparison with geological, electrical resistivity and gravity data , 2012 .

[16]  W. Blum,et al.  Particle detection with drift chambers , 1993 .

[17]  G. Hamar,et al.  Cosmic Muon Detection for Geophysical Applications , 2013 .

[18]  Hiroshi Shinohara,et al.  Radiographic visualization of magma dynamics in an erupting volcano , 2014, Nature Communications.

[19]  Konstantin N. Borozdin,et al.  Image Reconstruction and Material Z Discrimination via Cosmic Ray Muon Radiography. , 2004 .

[20]  N. Kawamura,et al.  Development of a two-fold segmented detection system for near horizontally cosmic-ray muons to probe the internal structure of a volcano , 2003 .

[21]  G. Hamar,et al.  Close cathode chamber: Low material budget MWPC , 2013 .

[22]  Ryuichi Nishiyama,et al.  Monte Carlo simulation for background study of geophysical inspection with cosmic-ray muons , 2016 .

[23]  E. Conti,et al.  First results on material identification and imaging with a large-volume muon tomography prototype , 2009, 2009 1st International Conference on Advancements in Nuclear Instrumentation, Measurement Methods and their Applications.

[24]  K. Morishima Latest Developments in Nuclear Emulsion Technology , 2015 .

[25]  J A Anderson,et al.  Search for hidden chambers in the pyramids. , 1970, Science.

[26]  S. Sciences,et al.  Imaging of high-Z material for nuclear contraband detection with a minimal prototype of a Muon Tomography station based on GEM detectors , 2010, 1007.0256.

[27]  Philippe Labazuy,et al.  Towards a muon radiography of the Puy de Dôme , 2012 .

[28]  G. G. Stokes "J." , 1890, The New Yale Book of Quotations.