Scientists in the US successfully catch elusive muons, preserving them from decay, with a fresh mobile detection system.

In a significant breakthrough for nuclear safety and research, a multidisciplinary team of physicists and engineers at the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) has developed a new mobile muon detector. This innovative device is expected to revolutionise spent nuclear fuel monitoring and potentially address critical challenges in quantum computing.

The new detector, which is based on the technology of the Spallation Neutron Source neutron detector, uses wavelength-shifting fibers to capture both the energy and scattering angles of muons in real time. This advanced technology promises clearer imaging of dense, shielded materials like spent nuclear fuel, significantly enhancing nuclear safety.

Muons, fundamental particles that can probe matter without causing damage, pose a unique challenge due to their rapid decay. However, the ORNL team, led by project leader JungHyun Bae, a Wigner Distinguished Staff Fellow at ORNL, and lead developer Polad Shikhaliev, has managed to overcome this hurdle.

The new muon detector captures both muon energy and scattering angles, significantly improving image quality compared to previous muon tomography systems. This enhancement could lead to more accurate and detailed insights into spent nuclear fuel, aiding in its safe management and disposal.

Moreover, the new detector has the potential to help scientists understand how cosmic radiation interferes with qubits, a critical aspect in the development of quantum computing. Collaborative work, according to Polad Shikhaliev, PhD, senior detector scientist and lead developer for the muon detector, is essential in scientific research.

The project, developed through a collaboration between ORNL's Neutron Sciences and Fusion and Fission Energy and Sciences directorates, was initiated by Junghyun Bae during his doctoral studies. He found the design in a neutron detector developed by Yacouba Diawara's Detectors Group at ORNL.

The muon detector was developed over the past two years and is set to be transferred to the new facility on the ORN campus for actual measurements this year. Junghyun Bae, a nuclear engineer and a Wigner Distinguished Staff Fellow leading projects for muon tomography at ORNL, expressed excitement about bringing the system to life.

ORNL is home to two of the world's most powerful neutron research sources, the High Flux Isotope Reactor and the Spallation Neutron Source, making it an ideal location for this groundbreaking research. The mobile muon detector is expected to deliver clearer imaging of dense, shielded materials, while also significantly enhancing nuclear safety.

Scientists in the US successfully catch elusive muons, preserving them from decay, with a fresh mobile detection system.