Sylvain Pasquet University of Paris Institute of Earth Physics of Paris (IPGP), CNRS Paris, France
Rosario Peluso Vesuvius Observatory National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology Naples, Italy
Ciro Pistillo Laboratory for High‐Energy Physics Albert Einstein Centre for Fundamental Physics University of Bern Bern, Switzerland
Anna Pla‐Dalmau Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory Batavia, Illinois, USA
Sébastien Procureur Department of Particle Physics Institute of Research into the Fundamental Laws of the Universe CEA Paris‐Saclay Gif sur Yvette, France
Santo Reito National Institute for Nuclear Physics Catania, Italy
Francesco Riggi Department of Physics and Astronomy University of Catania Catania Italy; and National Institute for Nuclear Physics Catania, Italy
Giuseppe Romeo Catania Astrophysical Observatory National Institute for Astrophysics Catania, Italy
Marina Rosas‐Carbajal University of Paris Institute of Earth Physics of Paris (IPGP), CNRS Paris, France
Giulio Saracino “Ettore Pancini” Physics Department University of Naples Federico II Naples, Italy; and National Institute for Nuclear Physics Naples, Italy
Paola Scampoli Laboratory for High‐Energy Physics Albert Einstein Centre for Fundamental Physics University of Bern Bern, Switzerland; and “Ettore Pancini” Physics Department University of Naples Federico II Naples, Italy
Giovanni Scarpato Vesuvius Observatory National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology Naples, Italy
Fritz Schlunegger Institute of Geological Sciences University of Bern Bern, Switzerland
Douglas Schouten Ideon Technologies, Inc. Richmond, British Columbia, Canada
Leïla Serene HSM Univ Montpellier, CNRS, IRD Montpellier, France
Paolo Strolin “Ettore Pancini” Physics Department University of Naples Federico II Naples, Italy; and National Institute for Nuclear Physics Naples, Italy
Gergely Surányi MTA‐ELTE Geological, Geophysical and Space Science Research Group Eötvös Loránd University Budapest, Hungary
Hiroyuki K. M. Tanaka Earthquake Research Institute, and International Muography Research Organization (MUOGRAPHIX) The University of Tokyo Tokyo, Japan; and International Virtual Muography Institute, Global
Valeri Tioukov National Institute for Nuclear Physics Naples, Italy;and Lebedev Physical Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences Moscow, Russia
Lee F. Thompson Department of Physics and Astronomy University of Sheffield Sheffield, UK; and International Virtual Muography Institute, Global
Michael Tytgat Department of Physics and Astronomy Ghent University Ghent, Belgium; and International Virtual Muography Institute, Global
Jacobus van Nieuwkoop Ideon Technologies, Inc. Richmond, British Columbia, Canada
Dezső Varga High Energy Physics Department Wigner Research Centre for Physics Budapest, Hungary; and International Virtual Muography Institute, Global
Enrico Vertechi Vesuvius Observatory National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology Naples, Italy
Lorenzo Viliani Department of Physics and Astronomy University of Florence Florence, Italy; and National Institute for Nuclear Physics Florence, Italy
Mykhailo Vladymyrov Laboratory for High‐Energy Physics Albert Einstein Centre for Fundamental Physics University of Bern Bern, Switzerland; and Theodor Kocher Institute University of Bern Bern, Switzerland
David Woodward Department of Physics Pennsylvania State University State College, Pennsylvania, USA
Zongxian Zhang Oulu Mining School University of Oulu Oulu, Finland
Preface
Being able to visualize Earth's subsurface at a resolution of a few meters has various uses, such as monitoring material movements in geological structures and hydrologic systems, as well as improving our understanding of geophysical phenomena. Muography is a passive and non‐destructive remote sensing technique that has the potential to achieve sufficient spatial resolutions for observing regions of the Earth that are nearly or totally inaccessible. This imaging technique utilizes muons, which originate from naturally occurring radiation created by the interactions of primary cosmic rays with atmospheric nuclei. These highly penetrating, elementary charged particles allow the visualization of the internal structure of human‐made objects and solid geological structures similar to X‐ray radiography in human bodies.
The principle of muography was demonstrated as long ago as the 1950s, but it is only in the past decade that muographic observation instruments have been adapted to operate in varying environmental conditions with sufficient performance and cost‐effectiveness to make muography a practical imaging technique in geosciences. This technique offers new possibilities to volcanology, geophysical exploration, civil engineering, and environmental applications by utilizing environmentally friendly technologies for the reliable, precise, and directionally sensitive measurement of muons.
Many of the technological breakthroughs in muography for geosciences have applications for contemporary society. A global network of scientists and engineers – the International Virtual Muography Institute, of which we are all a part – facilitates information sharing and provides education and support for the community. A recent result of this global collaboration is the Multi‐Aspect Geo‐Muographic Array (MAGMA) experiment, which is under development by various partners from the Americas, Asia, and Europe. MAGMA includes a Global Volcano Muography Network with observatories at Sakurajima (Japan) and Etna (Italy). MAGMA is also developing the Tokyo‐bay Seafloor Hyper KiloMetric Submarine Deep Detector (TS‐HKMSDD), which will explore the local natural gas field and serve as a tide imaging, monitoring, and warning system. The counterpart of TS‐HKMSDD has been designed for installation in the Boulby mine in northern England. Further joint muography research initiatives are operating at La Soufrière, Puy de Dôme, and Vesuvius volcanoes, as well as in the Egyptian pyramids and the Low Noise Underground Laboratory (LSBB).
The objective of this monograph is to present a broad picture of the progress, prospects, and limitations of muography in geophysical research and exploration, volcanology, and environmental applications. The book opens with an overview of the principles, pros, and cons of muography, as well as highlighting pioneering works (Chapter 1). Part I reviews different muographic image processing approaches, including how to reveal three‐dimensional density structures of volcano edifices (Chapters 2 and 3), and machine learning of muographic image data for volcano eruption forecasting (Chapter 4). Part II focuses on volcanic phenomena, with muography used as a standalone option as well as in conjunction with standard geophysical observation techniques. Different contributions look at muographic imaging of the dynamics of hydrothermal activities (Chapter 5), shallow magma supply systems (Chapter 6), tectonic evolution of vent structures (Chapter 7), and magmatic plug formation and explosion (