System and method for material density distribution survey based on cosmic muon detection

A muon detection system for investigating density variations of materials, the muon detection system comprises:

• at least one muon detection apparatus, which muon detection apparatus comprises a scintillation detector part, matrix detector and position and orientation apparatus,
• which muon detection apparatus is configured to:
• detect in the scintillation detector part emitted photons by the matrix detector, which in the scintillation detector part emitted photons result from cosmic-ray induced muon particles passing via a plurality of intersecting muon trajectories through the material situated in a subsurface measurement volume of the muon detection apparatus;
• which position and orientation apparatus is configured to:
• determine the position and orientation of the muon detection apparatus and produce position and orientation data of the muon detection apparatus;
• wherein the muon detection system further comprises:
• at least one decentralized DAQ system comprising a surface part and a detector part, said DAQ system configured to:
• receive operational commands;
• process the photon signals of detected photons into the form of a muon recording;
• send the position and orientation data and the muon recording;
• and
• send operational parameters from the surface part of the DAQ system to the detector part of the DAQ system;
• at least one supporting system, configured to:
• position at least one muon detection apparatus to receive the muon recording from the subsurface measurement volume;
• a processing unit, configured to:
• send operational commands;
• collect at least one muon recording;
• collect the position and orientation data of at least one muon detection apparatus;
• extract material densities from the subsurface measurement volume by utilising at least one muon recording;
• and
• merge extracted material densities from the subsurface measurement volume into a density distribution map.