Particle.news

Download on the App Store

Muon Detectors Map Underground Cavities in First Peer-Reviewed Field Test

A peer-reviewed study from Tel Aviv University validates muon detectors for noninvasive archaeological surveys.

Overview

  • Researchers demonstrated the method at Jeremiah's Cistern in Jerusalem's City of David, identifying structural anomalies by tracking muon flux variations.
  • Findings published in the Journal of Applied Physics document a field-ready approach that paired mobile detectors with LiDAR scans and scenario simulations.
  • Muon attenuation through rock reveals voids, with the team citing realistic imaging at roughly 30 meters over feasible measurement periods.
  • The group is pursuing smaller, more power-efficient detectors and plans AI-driven 3D reconstruction to turn particle counts into subsurface maps.
  • Further testing is planned at Tel Azekah in the Judean Foothills, in collaboration with Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and the Israel Antiquities Authority.