Muography : using cosmic rays as an imaging tool for volcanology and cultural heritage applications

The imaging technique known as muography relies on the absorption or scattering of atmospheric muons, which are created when primary cosmic rays interact with the upper atmosphere of our planet. Muons are subatomic particles with a mass around 200 times greater than that of electrons. Due to their relatively large mass, they have a low rate of energy loss through ionization and other electromagnetic processes. Due to the remarkable penetrating power of atmospheric muons, muography is an interesting method for imaging thick and massive objects. Muography is being used in various fields, including border control, cultural heritage, volcanology, geosciences, nuclear waste characterization, and archeology. Several types of particle detectors are used for muography, including gaseous, nuclear emulsion, and scintillator detectors. We are involved in the MUon RAdiography of VESuvius (MURAVES) project, using scintillator-based detectors to explore Mt. Vesuvius's summit cone—an active volcano near Naples, Italy, posing risks to nearby residents. To examine the impact of the experimental limitations and conduct comparisons with the real data, a Monte Carlo simulation framework is required. Our simulation chain integrates many Monte Carlo programs that cover various elements of cosmic muon modeling, such as muon production in Earth's upper atmosphere and detector response, including interactions with volcanic material. Additionally, we are developing a muon detector for muography based on mini-Resistive Plates Chambers (RPCs), named "Muoscope". This detector, designed to be portable, safe, robust, and autonomous, is well-suited for cultural heritage applications. This thesis describes the developement of airtight RPC detectors, as well as the establishment of a simulation chain for muography applications in volcanology and cultural heritage.