Development of Elemental Analysis Method for Archeological Artifacts by Characteristic Muonic X-ray Measurement

Abstract

A new non-destructive multi-elemental analysis method using negative muon beam has been developed. This method is based on measurement of characteristic muonic X-rays emitted after muonic atom formation. Muonic X-rays are very hard because of a large mass of the muon, so elemental analysis for deeply inside of a bulk material is possible. In addition, because the muon stopping depth can be controlled by adjusting incident muon energy, three-dimensional analysis will be achieved. To develop this elemental analysis method, we performed muon irradiation experiment for two types of archeological samples; bronze artifacts (coin and mirror) for investigation of quantitative elemental composition and estimation of detection limit, and a gold coin (Tempo-koban) for demonstration of elemental depth-profiling without sample destruction.