Scattering muon radiography and its application to the detection of high-Z materials

Scattering muon radiography is a novel technique of 3-d imaging for dense high-Z objects. High-energy cosmic ray muons are deflected in matter in the process of multiple Coulomb scattering. Measuring the deflection angles we are able to reconstruct the configuration of high-Z material in the object. We discuss how the technique can be used for the detection of compact high-Z objects in a large volume of ordinary material. We present results of our experiments and simulations and discuss image reconstruction issues relevant to scattering muon radiography. The ability of the technique to detect 20 kg of uranium hidden inside more than 10 tons of iron and in less than a minute of exposure is demonstrated.