Geoscientific Instrumentation, Methods and Data Systems
Geoscientific Instrumentation, Methods and Data Systems
GI
Articles | Volume 1, issue 2
Articles | Volume 1, issue 2
https://doi.org/10.5194/gi-1-235-2012
© Author(s) 2012. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
Special issue:
https://doi.org/10.5194/gi-1-235-2012
© Author(s) 2012. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
Articles | Volume 1, issue 2
19 Dec 2012
 | 19 Dec 2012

A novel technique to detect special nuclear material using cosmic rays

C. Thomay, P. Baesso, D. Cussans, J. Davies, P. Glaysher, S. Quillin, S. Robertson, C. Steer, C. Vassallo, and J. Velthuis

Abstract. Resistive plate chambers (RPCs) are widely used in high energy physics for both tracking and triggering purposes, due to their excellent time resolution, rate capability, and good spatial resolution. RPCs can be produced cost-effectively on large scales, are of rugged build, and have excellent detection efficiency for charged particles. Our group has successfully built a muon scattering tomography (MST) prototype, using 12 RPCs to obtain tracking information of muons going through a target volume of ∼ 50 cm × 50 cm × 70 cm, reconstructing both the incoming and outgoing muon tracks. The required spatial granularity is achieved by using 330 readout strips per RPC with 1.5 mm pitch. The RPCs have shown an efficiency above 99% and an estimated intrinsic resolution below 1.1 mm. Due to these qualities, RPCs serve as excellent candidates for usage in volcano radiography.

How to cite. Thomay, C., Baesso, P., Cussans, D., Davies, J., Glaysher, P., Quillin, S., Robertson, S., Steer, C., Vassallo, C., and Velthuis, J.: A novel technique to detect special nuclear material using cosmic rays, Geosci. Instrum. Method. Data Syst., 1, 235–238, https://doi.org/10.5194/gi-1-235-2012, 2012.
Received: 18 Jul 2012 – Discussion started: 31 Aug 2012 – Revised: 29 Nov 2012 – Accepted: 10 Dec 2012 – Published: 19 Dec 2012