The project title:

Developent of Muographic Instruments

Short description of the project:

The goal of our thematic research is the creation of high-tech muographic instruments, in cooperation with expert scientific and industrial partners, the broad demonstration of applicability, reaching the realization of technology transfer to industrial partners.

Summary of the project:

Muography is an innovative application of particle physics detection systems to map the internal structure of geological and industrial objects. The basis for this is the continuous arrival of particles from outer space, which, due to their high penetrability, provide structural information from several to hundreds of meters, even if other methods prove to be unsuitable. The purpose of this tender is to develop the detectors developed in Hungary at the instrument level, with which the technology and the domestic knowledge base can move from the research phase to the industrial direction.

The component of cosmic radiation that reaches the earth's surface consists mainly of particles called muons, which continuously lose energy and penetrate deep into the ground. By individually measuring these particles, the amount of absorbing material can be determined, and anomalies can be localized, similar to an X-ray image -- even of an object the size of a mountain.

Thanks to the development of industrial technologies and computing devices, muography has become an independent, extremely rapidly developing discipline in the last 15 years, the method can be used to map the internal structure of volcanoes or pyramids (Morishima, Nature 2017), it can be used to find underground cavity systems, mining exploration and for recultivation, as well as for the screening of highly radioactive areas.

In addition to the absorption muography above, there are two other related methods. With the help of several detectors, by measuring the scattering of muons, hidden high-numbered materials can be detected, so it can be used to check trucks and loads for national defense purposes. In addition, the measurement of the secondary particles produced in the target is the basis of a new non-destructive material testing method.

This project is carried out at the HUN-REN Wigner Physics Research Center under the leadership of the Innovative Detector Development "Lendület" Research Group in the Vesztergombi laboratories, which deals with the research and development of particle physics detectors for basic research and applied physics experiments, including muography systems. The portable muograph built from particle trackers developed by us was used to explore several domestic and foreign natural and artificial underground structures (caves and mines). The world's largest muography equipment, the tracker monitoring the active Sakurajima volcano (Sakurajima Muography Observatory), was created with Japanese-Hungarian cooperation and uses detector technology developed entirely at Wigner RCP. The first experiment to measure secondary particles was based on Serbian-Hungarian collaboration.

All over the world, many experimental particle physics groups are trying to compete in this highly industrial field, which is still under research and development. Our group achieves cutting-edge results at an international level, which is confirmed by European and overseas collaborations and requests for measurements. This domestic expertise is currently a major advantage in the competitive situation arising from the expected industrial opening.

We received the support of the OTKA (FK-135349) for the research of the basic scientific questions of muography, while we received the ELKH Special Topic call (ELKH-SA-88/2021) for the implementation of specific international applications in a collaborative form. This tender is related to the industrial applicability beyond the fundamental research and development and scientific issues: its goal is the development of a muographic instrument portfolio and the technology transfer of the devices to industrial partners.

From the point of view of this project, the primary purpose of ongoing and planned field measurements is to gain experience in real conditions and to identify key hardware and software elements that are important from the user's point of view. With the financing of the tender, we can perform the methodological validation with high TRL level (TRL5 or TRL7) detectors, thus moving forward towards industrial manufacturability. The planned measurements cover a significant part of the muographic topic area (we plan to implement all of them):

With the instruments to be developed, we want to design, document, produce prototypes, and construct mini-series of highly effective, cost-effective and easy-to-use tools for various areas of muography. Based on this, we aim to actively involve related industrial areas and partners.

The technology of the particle tracking detectors developed at WignerFK, together with the applied hardware and software components and local expertise, serve as an excellent basis for the instrument-level development of muograph detectors. Thus, with successful measurements and appropriate technological development, domestic instruments can form the European backbone of a new industry.

High Energy Geophysics Research Group supported by the HUN-REN Calling and Foreign Researchers Recruitment Program (KSZF-144/2023) (wigner.hu/s/high-energy-geophysics/)" participant of the TKP tender program from January 1, 2024.

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