ELFT HÍRADÓ

[Ferenc Siklér <sikler.ferenc AT wigner.hu>]

Kedves kollégák,

 Meghívunk minden érdeklődőt a Wigner FK Nagyenergiás Fizikai Osztályának ma
hétfői szemináriumára, június 17., 15:00-ra.

 Részletek itt, absztrakt alább:
 https://indico.wigner.hu/event/1593/

 [Az előadás helye a Wigner FK RMI 3. épület tanácsterme, zoom-on keresztül is
követhető, csatlakozási infók a fenti leírásban.]

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Konstantin Borozdin (Decision Sciences International Corporation and Sandia 
Research Center)

Radiographic techniques using muons are attractive for a plethora of diverse 
applications. Muons are relatively massive elementary particles produced 
naturally by cosmic rays and can be used as a highly penetrating, 
non-destructive probe. Muon radiography has been known since the middle of the 
20th century and has been used to study very large objects, such as volcanoes, 
pyramids, tunnels, and mines. Muon scattering tomography, invented in the 
beginning of the 21st century, is primarily concerned with material 
identification. Several muon tomography experiments have been carried out at 
the Fukushima Daiichi plant since 2014. These experiments have provided 
important insights into the state of the damaged reactors, including the 
location and distribution of the melted fuel. The information provided by muon 
tomography has helped to guide the planning and implementation of the 
decommissioning efforts at the Fukushima Daiichi plant. It has also provided 
valuable information about the behavior of nuclear fuel during severe 
accidents, which can inform the design and safety of future
nuclear reactors.

Another application of muon tomography that has gained interest in recent years 
is dry cask inspection. Muon tomography has been proposed as a non-destructive 
and non-invasive method for inspecting the internal structure of dry casks. 
Muon tomography has several advantages over other inspection methods, such as 
radiography or ultrasonic testing, because it is non-invasive and does not 
require direct contact with the cask. Research studies and experiments have 
demonstrated the feasibility and potential of muon tomography for dry cask 
inspections.

Cosmic-ray tomography represents a new approach for inspection technology — a 
safe alternative to X-ray and gamma-ray scanners. Methods of the scattering 
tomography have been developed by Los Alamos National Laboratory and 
commercialized by Decision Sciences as the Discovery® scanning system. This 
cutting-edge system is capable of providing a new tool for customs authorities 
searching for weapons, explosives, shielded nuclear material, smuggled people 
and various other contraband. It has been successfully deployed around the 
globe at ports, border crossings and other places. As the largest commercially 
available muon tomography scanner, the system accommodates cargo containers on 
commercial trucks. Using advanced image reconstruction techniques it analyzes 
signals and generates 3-D images of the scanned items. Learning from previous 
deployments, we continue to enhance the system's imaging capabilities and 
extend its reach to new customers. Here we discuss recent advancements in muon 
tomography technology, focusing on machine learning based approaches to 
accelerate muon tomography reconstructions, enhancing image quality and 
interpretation through machine learning algorithms and edge sharpening 
techniques. Additionally, breakthroughs in passive human detection capability 
offer promising prospects for improving security measures in maritime 
environments. These developments signify significant strides in enhancing the 
efficacy and scope of muon tomography in bolstering maritime security and 
infrastructure resilience.

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Üdvözlettel,
 Siklér Ferenc