Geological tomography using cosmic rays
First Claim
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1. A method for mapping subterranean densities in a survey region comprising:
- positioning a plurality of muon detectors at a plurality of subterranean locations adjacent to a test region, at least one of the plurality of muon detectors having a drift region and a voltage plane;
generating an electric field with the voltage plane to drift ionization electrons along a longitudinal axis of the muon detector away from the voltage plane toward an end of the drift region, the ionization electrons produced by one or more muons traversing the drift region;
detecting the ionization electrons;
collecting muon detection data from the plurality of muon detectors for a plurality of intersecting trajectories; and
processing the collected muon detection data to form a density map of the test region.
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Abstract
Disclosed are a system configured for detecting cosmic ray muon (CRM) flux along a variety of trajectories through a subterranean test region, collecting the muon detection data and processing the data to form a three-dimensional density distribution image corresponding to the test region. The system may be used for identifying concentrations of high (or low) density mineral deposits or other geological structures or formations well below the earth'"'"'s (or ocean floor) surface. The system may be utilized for imaging geological materials and structures of higher and/or lower density in a test region having a depth of several kilometers or more.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method for mapping subterranean densities in a survey region comprising:
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positioning a plurality of muon detectors at a plurality of subterranean locations adjacent to a test region, at least one of the plurality of muon detectors having a drift region and a voltage plane; generating an electric field with the voltage plane to drift ionization electrons along a longitudinal axis of the muon detector away from the voltage plane toward an end of the drift region, the ionization electrons produced by one or more muons traversing the drift region; detecting the ionization electrons; collecting muon detection data from the plurality of muon detectors for a plurality of intersecting trajectories; and processing the collected muon detection data to form a density map of the test region. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 21, 22)
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16. A system for mapping subterranean densities comprising:
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a plurality of muon detectors deployed in subterranean test locations to detect muon flux data associated with a subterranean test region, at least one of the plurality of muon detectors having a drift region and a voltage plane, the voltage plane intersecting a longitudinal axis of the muon detector; a positioning device to determine the test locations; a communication device to receive and transmit the detected muon flux data; and a processor to manipulate the detected muon flux data to produce a density map corresponding to the subterranean test region. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 23, 24)
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Specification