Conveners
Public Talk: Muon Radiography and Its Applications in Archaeology
- Giulio Saracino (Università Napoli Federico II and INFN Napoli)
Description
Traditional archaeological investigation combines surface surveys with geophysical prospecting techniques to identify and characterize archaeological sites. Methods such as magnetometry, ground-penetrating radar, and electrical resistivity are commonly used to detect buried structures and subsurface anomalies. In recent years, a new approach based on the measurement of cosmic-ray muons has emerged alongside these techniques. This method, known as muon radiography or muography, exploits the exceptional penetrating power of muons—elementary particles produced in the atmosphere by the interaction of cosmic radiation with the Earth’s atmosphere.
Muography is conceptually similar to X-ray imaging, but far more powerful, as muons can penetrate hundreds of meters of rock, allowing the detection of density anomalies within the crossed volumes, such as those caused by hidden cavities.
The presentation will introduce the basic principles of muon radiography, the main experimental techniques, and its potential applications. Some case studies in archaeology will then be presented, such as the fascinating study of the Egyptian pyramids and the Greco-Roman underground of the city of Naples (Italy).
Public talk at Humayun's Tomb Museum*
Traditional archaeological investigation combines surface surveys with geophysical prospecting techniques to identify and characterize archaeological sites. Methods such as magnetometry, ground-penetrating radar, and electrical resistivity are commonly used to detect buried structures and subsurface anomalies. In recent years, a new approach based on the measurement of cosmic-ray muons has...
