Technology & Services

System Overview

Our Muon Imaging System creates high-resolution 3D images of shielded objects that cannot be analysed by other, more conventional techniques such as X-rays.

The system is used to identify different materials, such as uranium and concrete, based on their density. We have developed state-of-the-art imaging algorithms, which reconstruct the 3D density map within shielded objects from the path taken by the muons through our detector system.

What are muons?

High-energy cosmic rays create showers of particles in the upper atmosphere. Muons from these showers reach the ground with a flux of about 1 per second for the area of the human hand.

Muons are:

charged particles like electrons but 200 times heavier
ubiquitous
naturally occurring
highly penetrating
cost free

Passive Inspection using Background Radiation

Muography is a non-invasive imaging technique that uses naturally-occurring background radiation.

This is an essential technique for imaging sensitive objects, such as radioactive waste, where destructive methods can be expensive and/or harmful to the operator.

Inside the Muon Imaging System

Lynkeos’ MIS works by tracking the paths of cosmic muons through the structure under interrogation using pairs of position-sensitive particle detectors. As the charged muon passes through material, it is deflected via the Coulomb force from atomic nuclei. The larger the density and atomic number (i.e., the number of protons in the nucleus) of the material, the larger the deflection. By detecting the trajectories of the muons as they enter and exit an object, a 3D density map is reconstructed.

The Lynkeos MIS is the first commercial system of its kind in the world and a powerful addition to the non-destructive testing and inspection toolkit.

It is a passive alternative (does not require any artificial radioactive source) to high-power X-rays for waste package monitoring.

With EU CE Certification and a first installation of muon imaging system within the global nuclear industry (NNL, UK, since 2018), the system is used to identify different materials, such as uranium and concrete, based on their density.

The applications include structural integrity monitoring of waste packages, characterising waste performance and quality assurance of new encapsulation techniques.

The technology is inert – based on plastic and low voltage electronics – stable, robust, reliable, and low maintenance.

Muons will also not suffer from reflections from metallic interfaces that affects the performance of ultrasonic techniques.

Services

We offer a range of products and services that are tailored to our customers complex needs. These include: