Publication Date:
2022-02-16
Description:
The muon radiography is a novel imaging technique to probe the volcanoes
interior, using the capability of high energy cosmic ray muons to
penetrate large thicknesses of rock. In this way it is possible to derive a 2D
density map along the muon trajectory of volcanic edifices and deduce
information on the variations in the rock density distribution, like those
expected from dense lava conduits, or low density magma supply paths.
This method is applicable also to study geological objects as glaciers,
faults, oil underground reservoirs, engineering constructions, where a
density contrast is present. Nuclear emulsions are well suited to be employed
in this context for their excellent angular resolution; they are compact
and robust detectors, able to work in harsh environments without
need of power supply. On the other side, a long exposure time is required
for a reasonable detector surface (~10 m2) in order to collect a sufficient
statistics of muons, and a quasi-real time analysis of the emulsion data
is rather difficult due to the scanning time needed by the optical microscopes.
Such drawback is on the way to be overcome thanks to a recent
R&D program on ultra-fast scanning systems. Muon radiography technique,
even if limited to the summit part of the volcano edifice, represents
an important tool of investigation, at higher spatial resolution, complementary
to the conventional geophysics techniques. The first successful
result in this field was obtained by a Japanese group that observed in 2007
the conduit structure of Mt. Asama. Since 2010, other interesting volcanoes
have been probed with the same method: Stromboli in 2011, Mt.
Teide in 2012 and La Palma in 2014. Here we discuss the muon imaging
technique reporting the nuclear emulsion detector design exposed at
Stromboli and results of the data analysis.
Description:
Published
Description:
S0111
Description:
2V. Struttura e sistema di alimentazione dei vulcani
Description:
JCR Journal
Repository Name:
Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (INGV)
Type:
article
