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

We have proposed a new method for nuclear material contraband detection based on cosmic ray muon radiography. The method is safe, because it does not include the generation of any artificial radiation, but uses naturally produced high-energy muons. Results obtained with our prototype experiment, and from simulations demonstrate the feasibility of the method for the detection of high-Z materials hidden inside different types of ordinary cargo. Detector technology for muon detection is mature and enables cost-effective design for a muon radiography apparatus. Image reconstruction is not trivial and may be done in various ways. We developed the PoCA algorithm for image reconstruction and the MC (muon crossing) algorithm for the detection of high-Z material. Our simulations of a full-scale muon radiography system suggest high efficiency of detection in 1 minute of exposure with a low number of false positives for a 20 kg of uranium hidden inside 11 tons of uniformly distributed iron.