Muon Tracing and Image Reconstruction Algorithms for Cosmic Ray Muon Computed Tomography

Area of Science:

• Nuclear physics and instrumentation
• Advanced imaging techniques
• Materials science

Background:

• Cosmic ray muon computed tomography (μCT) offers unique advantages for imaging dense, shielded objects due to muon scattering properties and penetration range.
• Conventional μCT reconstruction methods, like filtered back-projection, are limited by simplified scattering assumptions, necessitating advanced approaches.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and assess novel muon tracing and scattering angle projection algorithms for improved μCT image quality.
• To demonstrate the effectiveness of these advanced methods in detecting defects in simulated nuclear fuel storage scenarios.

Main Methods:

• Development of three novel muon tracing algorithms.
• Implementation of two scattering angle projection methods.
• Utilizing algebraic reconstruction techniques for μCT image reconstruction.

Main Results:

• Reconstructed images showed improved quality compared to conventional techniques.
• Enhanced detection capability for partial defects, even without muon momentum information.
• Simulations used dry storage casks with missing fuel assemblies to validate methods.

Conclusions:

• Advanced muon tracing and scattering algorithms significantly improve μCT image quality and defect detection.
• The developed methods offer a more sophisticated approach to μCT reconstruction, overcoming limitations of conventional techniques.
• These advancements are crucial for applications requiring high-resolution imaging of shielded containers.