Atmospheric Muon Flux Measurement Near Earth's

Equatorial Line

Cristian Borja*, Carlos Ávila, Gerardo Roque, Manuel Sánchez

cm.borja10@uniandes.edu.co*

Physics Department (High Energy Physics Laboratory)

Universidad de los Andes

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 Atmospheric Muons

Cosmic Rays (Disc. 1936)

● Free Source of Radiation (No health hazard)

● Higher flux at Sea Level
● Lifetime 2.2μs. Relativistic factor γ≈20.
Travel 24 km (Produced at 15km height).
● Mass ~200me (Energy loss proportional to 1/m²).

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 Muon Measurement Applications

Fundamental Physics Research

● Particle Physics Research (muons are measured in high-energy collisions)
● Cosmic Ray Research (understanding cosmic radiation)
● Muon detection is used for detector calibration and characterization.

Applied physics (Muography)

● Geology: Volcanoes, caves. (Muon measurements can complement gravimetric measurements)
● Archeology: Pyramids, ancient structures (3D reconstruction)
● Industry: Nuclear reactor monitoring, furnaces monitoring
● Civil Engineering: Monitoring structural stability of buildings
● Space Exploration: Muography has been proposed for planetary exploration.
● Medical Imaging: Only for dense tissues (bones)

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 Muography

Transmission Muography Scattering/Transmission Muography

● Massive Objects (Km) ● Smaller Objects (cm to m) (High-Z materials)

● Geological Structures ● Containers, furnaces, other applications
● We measure attenuation/transmission. ● We measure attenuation/transmission but also
Change in muon flux how much muon trajectory change

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 First Muography (archaeology) (1970)

(1970) Álvarez et al. reported that muon flux through the pyramid Revisited in 2016-2017 ScanPyramids team reported new voids
was not compatible with the existence of hidden chambers. inside the pyramid. “a corridor-shaped structure” was found

Revisited in 2023. Focused in a “precise characterization of the

structure”

Alvarez, Anderson, et al. Search for Hidden Chambers in the Pyramids: The structure of the Second Pyramid of Giza is determined by cosmic-ray absorption. Science 1970 167, 832–839.
https://doi.org/10.1126/science.167.3919.832.
Procureur, S., Morishima, K., Kuno, M. et al. Precise characterization of a corridor-shaped structure in Khufu’s Pyramid by observation of cosmic-ray muons. Nat Commun 14, 1144 (2023). 5
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-36351-0
 Muography of Satsuma-Iwojima volcano, Japan (2014)

The high volcanic activity in Japan aroused the interest in

the use of muography as a monitoring tool since 1995.

Tanaka Hiroyuki K. M. Japanese volcanoes visualized with muography. Phil. Trans. R. Soc. 2018 A.3772018014220180142 https://doi.org/10.1098/rsta.2018.0142 6
 International Collaborations
[France]
DIAPHANE
Development and application of muon tomography for volcanology
studies and monitoring

Tomography with Atmospheric Muons from Volcanoes (TOMUVOL)

Muon Radiography of Vesuvius (MURAVES)
Joint measurement of the transmittance of the inner structure of the
Puy de Dôme in France (2018)

[Japan]
Sakurajima Muographic Observatory (SMO)
Aims to monitor the active volcano Sakurajima in Kyushu,Japan

[Italy]
Muography of Etna Volcano (MEV)
Developing detectors intended for studying volcanoes in collaboration
with geoscientists, engineers, and physicist

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 WaTo Experiment, Saclay France, 2016

Recent research focuses in portable and compact detectors

capable to operate in complex environmental conditions Full Empty

Micromegas Detector (Micro-MEsh Gaseous Structure)

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 Muon Telescope (Uniandes)

Mechanical Structure

Photoelectric Effect
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Electronic System

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 (Relative) Detector Efficiency

C1 C1

C2 C2

C3 C3

C4 C4
Control Parameter
(LLT, HV)

C1•C2•C4 C1•C2•C3•C4

C1•C2•C3•C4
Efficiency (C3) =
C1•C2•C4

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 Optimal Operational Parameters

Analog Signal

LLT

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Detector Performance

Low Energy
Events

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Detector Performance

High Energy
Events

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 Detector Performance
Offset ≈ 20 ns TDC Window Detection ≈ 102.4 ns

C1•C4 Signal

C1 Signal
C2 Signal
C3 Signal
C4 Signal

Trigger Signal 0 TDC units TDC 1 TDC 2 TDC 3 TDC 4 4095 TDC units
GATE OFFSET STOP
Time of Flight (ToF) ≈ 16 ns

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Ready to Measure

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After measuring during 3 months…
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Muon Flux vs. Zenith Angle

We reported a total estimate flux of muons

over Bogotá of 255.1 ± 5.8 µ/(m²s)

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 Further Details

Read the publication here!

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What 's Next?

CORSIKA Simulation
Density Mapping of
Monserrate

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¡ Thanks for your time !

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Backup Slides

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 Muon Detectors

Based on Scintillators Gas Based Detectors Cherenkov Detectors

Scintillator materials coupledGEM (Gas Electron Multiplier) Underground water/ice

to PMT/SiPM MPWC (Multi-wire Proportional Chambers) containers
Scintillator Fibers RPC (Resistive Plate Chambers)
Drift Chambers

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 Scattering Muography

Muon-scattering tomography of a Tungsten Cylinder

10.1 cm

Right, Priedhorsky (2003), Detection of high-Z objects using multiple scattering of cosmic ray muons http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.1606536 27
 Hybrid Muography

Different materials cause a different amount of

scattering and attenuation

Blanpied (2015), Material discrimination using scattering and stopping of cosmic ray muons and electrons: Differentiating heavier from lighter metals as well as low-atomic weight materials
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 Monitoring of Building Stability

Checchia (2016), Review of possible applications of Cosmic Muon Tomography. doi:10.1088/1748-0221/11/12/C12072.

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Water Cherenkov Detector (Uniandes)

AGUA

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