Cherenkov detector with wavelength-shifting fiber readout for muon tomography applications

Abstract

Cherenkov detectors have been extensively developed and utilized in various scientific fields, including particle physics, astrophysics, and nuclear engineering. These detectors operate based on Cherenkov radiation, which is emitted when a charged particle traverses a dielectric medium at a velocity greater than the phase velocity of light in that medium. In this work, we present the development of a Cherenkov radiation detector designed for a muon tomography system with high spatial resolution, employing wavelength-shifting (WLS) fiber readout. The detector consists of two large-area Cherenkov radiators, each measuring 1 m x 1 m, with each read out by WLS fibers arranged orthogonally to determine the x and y coordinates of muon hit positions. The system is modeled using the GEANT4 simulation package, and the achieved position resolution is is 1.8 mm+-0.1 (FWHM). The detector is inherently insensitive to natural background radiation and exhibits directional sensitivity, which helps prevent image blurring caused by muons scattered from the Earth's surface and entering the detector from the rear. This capability enables applications in non-invasive archaeological and geophysical imaging.