Development of Nondestructive Imaging Analysis Method Using Muonic X-Ray with a Double-Sided Silicon Strip Detector

In recent years, a nondestructive elemental analysis method based on muonic X-ray measurements has been developed and applied for various samples. Muonic X-rays are emitted after the formation of a muonic atom, which occurs when a negatively charged muon is captured in a muon atomic orbit around the nucleus. Because muonic X-rays have a higher energy than electronic X-rays due to the muon mass, they can be measured without being absorbed by a material. Thus, estimating the two-dimensional (2D) elemental distribution of a sample became possible using an X-ray imaging detector. In this work, we report a non-destructive imaging experiment using muonic X-rays at Japan Proton Accelerator Research Complex. The irradiated target consisted of a polypropylene material, and a double-sided silicon strip detector, which was developed as an imaging detector for astronomical obervation, was employed. A peak corresponding to muonic X-rays from the carbon atoms in the target was clearly observed in the energy spectrum at an energy of 14 keV, and 2D visualizations were successfully reconstructed to reveal the projection image from the target. This result demonstrates the potential of the nondestructive elemental imaging method that is based on muonic X-ray measurement. To obtain a higher position resolution for imaging a smaller target, a new detector system will be developed to improve the statistical analysis in further research.





References:
[1] Terada, K., Ninomiya, K., Osawa, T. et al. A new X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy for extraterrestrial materials using a muon beam Sci Rep 4, 5072 (2014).
[2] Terada, K., Sato, A., Ninomiya, K. et al. Non-destructive elemental analysis of a carbonaceous chondrite with direct current Muon beam at MuSIC Sci Rep 7, 15478 (2017).
[3] Shimada-Takaura, K., Ninomiya, K., Sato, A. et al. A novel challenge of nondestructive analysis on OGATA Koan’s sealed medicine by muonic X-ray analysis J Nat Med 75, 532–539 (2021).
[4] Ninomiya, K., Kubo, M., Nagatomo, T. et al. Nondestructive Elemen-tal Depth-Profiling Analysis by Muonic X-ray Measurement Analytical Chemistry 87, 4597-4600 (2015).
[5] Hampshire, B.V., Butcher, K., Ishida, K. et al. Using Negative Muons as a Probe for Depth Profiling Silver Roman Coinage Heritage, 2, 400-407 (2019).
[6] Kudo, T., Ninomiya, K., Strasser, P. et al. Development of a non-destructive isotopic analysis method by gamma-ray emission measure-ment after negative muon irradiation, Radioanal Nucl Chem 322, 1299–1303 (2019).
[7] Takeda, S., Watanabe, S., Tanaka, S. et al. Development of double-sided silicon strip detectors (DSSD) for a Compton telescope Nucl. Instrum. Methods Phys Res A 579, 859-865 (2007)
[8] Nakazawa, K., Takeda, S., Tanaka, T. et al. A high-energy resolution 4 cm-wide double-sided silicon strip detector Nucl. Instrum. Methods Phys Res A 573, 44-47 (2007)
[9] Sato, G., Hagino, K., Watanabe, S. et al. The Si/CdTe semiconductor camera of the ASTRO-H Hard X-ray Imager (HXI) Nucl. Instrum. Methods Phys Res A 831, 235-241 (2016)
[10] Watanabe, S., Tajima, H., Fukazawa, Y. et al. The Si/CdTe semiconductor Compton camera of the ASTRO-H Soft Gamma-ray Detector (SGD) Nucl. Instrum. Methods Phys Res A 765, 192-201 (2014)
[11] Tajima, H., Nakamoto, T., Tanaka, T. et al. Performance of a low noise front - end ASIC for Si / CdTe detectors in Compton gamma-ray telescope IEEE Trans Nucl Sci 51, 842-847 (2004)
[12] Takeda, S., Takahashi, T., Watanabe, S. et al. Double-sided silicon strip detector for X-ray imaging Spie Newsroom 01 (2008)
[13] Wataru, H., Ryosuke, K., Naritoshi, K. et al. Materials and Life Science Experimental Facility at the Japan Proton Accelerator Research Complex IV: The Muon Facility Quantum Beam Sci 1, 11 (2017)
[14] Agostinelli, S., Allison, J., Amako, K. et al. Geant4—a simulation toolkit Detect Assoc Equip 506, 250–303 (2003)
[15] Jenkins, D. A., Kunselman, R., Higher Transitions in π-Mesonic Atoms Phys Rev Lett 17, 1148–1152 (1966)
[16] Engfer, R., Schneuwly, H., Vuilleumier, J. et al. Charge-distribution parameters, isotope shifts, isomer shifts, and magnetic hyperfine constants from muonic atoms At Data Nucl Data Tables 14, 509-97 (1974)
[17] Brownell, G.L. Theory of radioisotope scanning Intern J Appl Rad Isot 3, 181-192 (1958)