FI12053U1 - Myon detector, a device that determines density difference in earth and rock material and is lowered into a drill hole - Google Patents

Abstract

A myone detector, which is a device for determining the difference in density between soil and rock material, having an elongated cylindrical sheath (4) and a cable (2) for moving it in a bore or drill hole, driven by a winch (3) or the like; characterized in that inside the housing of the myon detector shell (4) there is an active detector system (6) having one or more circular, rectangular, square or other shaped and usually elongated scintillation plastic segments (8, 9, 10), each of which detects light (photons) generated by myon particles and natural background radiation (gamma), each of which is optically isolated from other scintillation segments by completely covering them with an inward reflecting layer (13). Additionally, protection requirements 2-6.

Description

DEVICE FOR DETERMINING DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SOIL AND STONE MATERIAL TO BE DRILLED AND DRILLED, MYON DETECTOR

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a measuring device for detecting high energy cosmic myon radiation, the myon detector. More particularly, the invention relates to the performance of physical or geophysical measurements of boreholes, boreholes, tunnels, and the like. With the device according to the invention, it is possible to determine the relative density differences between soil and rock material.

The invention relates to particle physics as well as to physical and geophysical measuring equipment and measuring science. It is an object of the invention to provide a high-energy cosmic myon detector for detecting, if necessary, a small cylindrical space such as a drill hole and a drill hole. However, the invention may have other application areas.

Myons are electron-like, electrically charged, high-velocity, high-energy particles. In nature, the formation of myons is mainly due to the dissolution of cosmic radiation in the upper parts of the Earth's atmosphere. Cosmic rays are high-energy particles, mainly protons and atomic nuclei. As the cosmic rays collide with the atoms in the atmosphere, there is a burst of secondary radiation consisting of a large number of different elementary particles. Myons are the most important component of secondary radiation. With a mass of about 200 times the electron, myons can penetrate hundreds of meters or even more than one kilometer underground, depending on energy. Dense materials absorb more myons than materials of lower specific density. Thus, density variations between different materials can be detected by observing how much they pass through myons per unit time.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Myon detection technology is being used to some extent worldwide, for example in the scanning of cargo containers and trucks, in the identification of radioactive materials and in archeology. Measuring devices for such uses are based on a different structure and principle than the myone detector of the invention. Existing techniques for detecting myons are not suited to conducting myon measurements in confined spaces and, on the other hand, are not as accurate as a myon detector representing new technology. A commercial application based on the detection of myons has so far not been developed specifically for needs where density measurements need to be made in narrow drills and boreholes, typically only 42-120 mm in diameter. However, there has been a need to develop a solution in which density measurements based on myon detection can be performed in drill and boreholes.

Current techniques for measuring density in drill holes and drill holes have been implemented using a completely different technique than the myon detector. For example, in the mining and ore exploration industry, finding a solution based on myon detection would provide a more efficient way of conducting soil and bedrock density mapping using existing drill and drill holes. The invention would be able to identify denser material-containing parts of the earth and rock areas between drill points. Such denser parts or areas are potential ore stones and therefore interesting points for further study. Less dense areas, on the other hand, are more likely to be ore-free areas, so drilling may not be necessary at all. Thus, a solution based on the detection of myons would reduce the amount of drilling in early exploration, thus making the exploration more environmentally friendly.

The invention enables myon measurements to be made in drill holes and drill holes. However, the invention can also be applied to other applications. There are many possible applications for the invention, including mining, ore exploration, geotechnical research, etc. The invention complements and partially replaces existing technologies, such as microwave gravity measurements of drill holes and gravity measurements as aerial measurements. The problem with micro gravity measurements in drill and drill bits is the relatively limited radial permeability. A limitation of gravity measurements in flight measurements is the lack of spatial accuracy of density data.

PURPOSE OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is to enable the acquisition of new information in a way which cannot be obtained by existing techniques. Also, the information obtained by the invention is new in nature. The purpose of the myon detector is to collect information on the relative density variations of the medium passing through the myon. Such medium may be, for example: (1) soil material such as alternating layers of sand, gravel, and moraine, (2) rock material such as crystalline bedrock or rocky sediment, (3) water, oil or the like, or (4) ) man-made technological constructions.

The object of the invention is to provide a new technology for measuring the number of myons, a myon detector, which has a higher dimensional accuracy than known densitometers. Because dense materials absorb more myons than materials of lower specific gravity, density variations between different materials can be detected by determining how much they pass through myons per unit time. Example: Areas that emit little myons to the myon detector are denser than those with relatively more myons. In particular, it is an object of the invention to enhance the use of three-dimensional density profiles based on density measurement for 3D tomographic imaging of soil and bedrock.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 illustrates, by way of example, a cross-sectional view of the use of the invention in drill holes and drill holes.

Figure 2 illustrates the general structure of the invention.

Figure 3 illustrates the general structure of the invention in three dimensions.

Figure 4 illustrates the principle of separating myon particles from normal background (gamma) radiation by the invention.

Figure 5 illustrates the principle upon which the general directional sensitivity of the invention is based.

Figure 6 shows the general structure of a single 1-light sensor scintillator segment.

Fig. 7 shows the general structure of a single scintillation plastic segment having two or more light sensors.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention, or myon detector, detects myons by indirectly measuring the photons produced by the collision of myons with the scintillation resin segments contained in the myon detector. Photons are detected and the resulting signal is recorded. The transfer of the generated data to external information systems and the further processing of the data are part of the operation of the myon detector, but they are not critical components of the invention, but can be implemented in many different ways. Figures 1-7 show details, function, and critical components of a myone detector.

Figure 1 shows a measurement scenario according to one embodiment of the invention. The myon detector 1 may be lowered into the drill hole or drill hole A by a combination of cable 2 and winch 3, or by some similar technical system. Cable 2 is used not only for the mechanical movement of the myon detector in the drill and borehole, but also for power supply and communication between its myon detector and its terrestrial data storage systems (not shown). For example, cable 2 may consist of two parts: a mechanical cable and a communication cable, which may, if necessary, be replaced by another solution. In the left position of Figure 1, the myone detector 1 is lowered into a vertical drill or drill hole A. In the right position of Figure 1, the myone detector 1 is lowered into an inclined drill or drill hole A. that underground (not shown). Underground, such as an underground mine, a bore or drill hole can also be drilled / drilled sideways or upwards. In such cases, it may be pushed into the desired position of the drill or drill hole by some mechanical solution, such as drill pipes. Otherwise, the measurement technique is similar to that shown in Figure 1.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the myon detector 1 is lowered to the desired depth and left to detect the myons, or rather the photons they produce. This is done, for example, in both figures of Figure 1. In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the measurement is made at several different depths in the bore or drill hole. In both applications, one measurement point is delayed until a statistically sufficient number of myons have been detected. The measuring time increases as a function of depth because the deeper you go, the fewer myons will reach the depth of the gauge.

In a more expensive embodiment of the invention, the measurement or multiple measurements are made in more than two drill or drill holes. The holes should be located in a relatively small area. If enough measurements are made and in a sufficient number of drill or drill holes, the measurement data can be utilized to create three-dimensional density profiles (3D tomography). This type of measurement data is particularly useful in the further processing of the material and enables, for example, three-dimensional modeling of the studied object with respect to density variations.

Figure 2 illustrates the internal structure of a myon detector 1 according to the invention. From the outside, the Myoni detector is an elongated cylinder, ie it has the same cross-sectional shape as the drill and drill holes. This similarity in shape allows the myon detector to be easily lowered into a drill or drill hole. At the other end of the myoni detector is a fastening mechanism 7 for the cable 2 shown in Fig. 1. The inner portions of the myoni detector 1 are protected by a cylindrical outer casing 4, as shown in the left figure of Fig. 2. Intermediate space 5 includes, for example, data transmission and power supply lines and other necessary electronics. The rest of the space is either empty or filled with some suitable filler. Depending on the conditions of use, the outer casing 4 may be constructed, for example, of stainless, acid-proof or high-strength steel or other suitable material for the application. The active detection system 6 of the myon detector inside the outer casing 4 fills most of the cylindrical interior of the outer casing 4. The end section of the active detector system 6 is generally rectangular or square, but may also have other shapes.

Figure 3 shows the internal structure of the myone detector 1 in three dimensions with the active detector system 6 of the invention positioned inside the protective housing 4. The active detector system 6 of the invention consists of a variable number of scintillation segments B. The active detector system 6 itself is not so much a part, but a rigid system consisting of smaller entities, such as scintillation segments, bound together in a tight package. The scintillation segments are generally square or rectangular in shape, but may also have some other shape. In the direction of its longitudinal axis, the scintillation resin segments are typically elongated, as well as the surrounding sheath 4. The row at the bottom of Figure 3 shows the end sections of the most common versions of the active detector system 6 such that each area delimited by dotted lines represents one scintillation resin. In the leftmost version of Active Detector System 6, there is only one piece of scintillation segments, followed by two, and so on. There are no restrictions on the number of scintillation segments other than the available volume and application requirements. Odd numbers are also possible.

Figure 4 illustrates the principles of using scintillation segments B in more detail than Figure 3. In the situation illustrated in Figure 4, the active detector system 6 of the myone detector 1 consists of two scintillation resin segments B of pattern 8 (8a and 8b). Both scintillation segments 8a and 8b are coated with an inwardly reflecting layer 13, i.e., they are optically insulated from one another. This same structure for scintillation segments is repeated in all other versions of the invention. The purpose of the inward reflecting layer 13 is to direct the photons produced by the myons along said scintillation segment. Another purpose of the inwardly reflecting layer 13 is to prevent photons from escaping outside of its scintillation segment. At least two scintillation resin segments B are required for the invention to be able to distinguish myonic particles from normal background radiation (gamma radiation). Both forms of particle radiation produce photons in scintillation segments, but the myon particle is capable of producing photons in more than one scintillation segment simultaneously. In practice, this means that photons detected in only one scintillation segment are always interpreted as photons generated by normal background radiation. Some of these photons may also be produced by myons, but to assure the quality of the data obtained in the measurement, all photons detected in only one scintillation segment are interpreted as photons generated by normal background radiation. Conversely, all cases where photons are simultaneously detected in at least two scintillation segments are interpreted as myon-induced events. The structure of Fig. 4 makes it possible to detect these so-called "coincidence" (concurrency) events. At the bottom of Fig. 4, what is meant by coincidence and the so-called coincidence condition are represented by symbols. The upper row of symbols shows cases where, at time ti, only one of the scintillation segments 8a and 8b hits a particle. The hit generates photons in either of the scintillator segments 8a or 8b. The hit, or photon generation, is represented by a black-dyed scintillation segment. Because there is only one hit, the myone detector software interprets that the hit was caused by natural background radiation (gamma), although in principle the hit could also be caused by a badly hit myon particle. The lower row of symbols represents an event where hits are recorded simultaneously in two different scintillation segments. The myon detector software interprets this situation as causing the passage of a myon particle through the scintillation segments of the active detector system 6. For physical reasons, only myons can repeatedly produce photons simultaneously in more than one scintillation resin segment.

Figure 4 illustrates a dual segment myon detector solution, an embodiment of the invention capable of detecting myons from natural background radiation (gamma radiation). However, such a solution is not yet enough to tell the software which direction the myons came from. More than two scintillation segments are required to answer this question.

When using a multi-segment (scintillation plastic segments B> 2), the condition of coexistence described above for the scintillation plastics segments and the above can be eliminated. In this case, the same myone detector can be used to determine the gamma activity (gamma radiation) of the environment being studied, since all photons are now interpreted as being due to gamma radiation. Although this is not really true, meaning that some of the photons are still generated by myons, such an interpretation provides additional insight into the gamma activity of the surrounding area. Changes in the computational frequency provide geologists with additional information on, for example, rock types in the borehole under investigation.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 5, the internal active detector array 6 of the myone detector 1 is divided into nine scintillation resin segments B, all of Model 9. Fig. 5 illustrates the principle upon which the general directional sensitivity of the invention is based. Since each scintillation resin segment 9 is optically isolated from the other segments by a reflective layer 13, the photons detected in each segment are generated specifically in that segment. At the bottom of Figure 5, typical signal variants of the symbols are shown so that the nine squares shown represent a nine-segment active detector system 6. Each box represents one scintillation segment B. The black-colored squares represent the scintillation segments in which they are created. The resulting photons can be interpreted to be myon-generated on the basis that photons are generated simultaneously in at least two adjacent scintillation segments; the condition of concurrency must also apply in cases where photons are produced only in scintillation segments adjacent to the corners. There are many different signal options, and the grids at the bottom of Fig. 5 represent only a portion of the different options. Example: The top row of the leftmost grid is colored black. Such a signal means that each of the three segments of the top segment row of the nine-segment myone detector is hit by a myon. However, this solution does not yet determine which side of the device this myone comes from, that is, right or left. However, the directional information obtained already is valuable information and can be obtained by a multi-segment solution such as the invention. The nine-segment embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 5 is not the only alternative for obtaining such directional information, the scintillation cell may also include some other number of scintillation segments. The only condition is that there are more optically insulated scintillation segments 13 on the inwardly reflecting layer 13 than in the structure shown in Fig. 4. When there are nine or more segments, the overall directional sensitivity of the invention is improved. Thus, the embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 5 is capable of simultaneously performing two functions: detecting myons from normal background radiation and detecting the path of motion of each myone particle.

In all different embodiments of the invention, the photons generated in each scintillation resin segment are detected by a photosensitive detector attached thereto, a light sensor. In one embodiment of the myon detector, each scintillation resin segment is provided with a single light sensor. Thus, the other end of each scintillation segment is a reflective surface. Figure 6 shows one scintillation segment 10 of such a myon detector. This scintillation segment is provided with a single light sensor 11 and a communication cable 12 associated therewith. In addition, the scintillation segment 10 is completely covered with an inward reflecting layer 13. Figure 7 illustrates an embodiment of the invention more specifically, one at each end of the scintillation segment. The scintillation resin segments 8 and 9 previously shown in Figures 4 and 5 may be similar to the scintillation resin segments shown in Figures 6 or 7 in terms of their number of light sensors. Each scintillation segment may also be equipped with more than two light sensors (not shown).

Figure 7 shows one way in which, in addition to the trajectories of myon particles, the directions of myon uptake can also be determined. Figure 7 shows one scintillation segment 10. At each end of this scintillation segment is a light sensor I1a and a communication cable 12 associated therewith. In addition, each scintillation segment 10 is optically insulated from the other scintillation segments with an inwardly reflecting layer 13 covering the entire segment. When the scintillator segment 10 collides with a particle, a plurality of photons are generated which proceed to propagate along the scintillation plastic in different directions. Because these photons are reflected inwardly from the reflective layer 13, all photons are received at either of the light sensors 11. It is highly likely that photons are received at both light sensors 11 because already passing one myon through the scintillation segment 10 produces thousands or even tens of thousands of photons. When a photon collides with a light sensor, an electrical pulse is generated. The time difference of the electrical pulses from the light sensors can be used to determine the location of the particle hit in that scintillation segment. Information on the arrival time of the photons is obtained when the light sensor 11 converts the received photons into electrical pulses, which are transmitted to the storage unit and the software via the communication line 12. The stored data includes the reception time, so this principle provides directional information on where the myons hit each scintillation segment. The directional information of the myons is obtained by comparing the hits of the various scintillation segments with each other and also with the general directional information represented by the structure shown in Figure 5.

With the implementation of Figure 5, the direction of the trajectory of the particle can be determined, but not which side of the myone has hit the device. By using the measuring system of Figure 7, where each scintillation segment has light detectors at each end, the origin of the photons produced by the myons can be determined. By combining hit data with the general knowledge that there are no underground myons, it is also possible to determine the angle of incidence of myons at both the zenith and azimuth angles when the position of the myone detector 1 in the drill hole or hole is known.

Some embodiments of the myon detector according to the invention have been described above. The invention is not limited to the solutions described above, but the inventive idea can be applied in various ways within the scope defined by the claims. Most embodiments of the invention include a combination of various and similar embodiments. It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that various aspects of the invention may be implemented in many different ways, but that the use of scintillation segments according to the protection requirements is the most valuable part of the invention.

Claims (6)

PROTECTION REQUIREMENTS 1. Myondetector som e en anordning som fastställer densitetsskillnader i jord- och stenmaterial, wilk anordning uppvisar en avlång cylinderformig shields (4) och en cable (2) för att förflytta den i ett borrhål, wilk cable förflyttas med en vinsch motivvarand, kangnetecknad av att etrymme innanför myondetektomes skyddshylsa (4) uppvisar et active detector system (6) med el eller flera vanligtvis avlånga scintillationsplastsegment (8, 9, 10) med rund, rectangular, quadrant eller photoner) som pictures av myonpartiklar och av normal naturlig bakgrundsstrålning (gammastrålning), och variegated ophthalmic isolerade från andra scintillationsplastegment genomic image de lichen med lager (13). A myone detector, which is a device for determining the difference in density between soil and rock material, having an elongated cylindrical sheath (4) and a cable (2) for moving it in a bore or drill hole, driven by a winch (3) or the like; characterized in that inside the housing of the myon detector cover (4) there is an active detector detector system (6) having one or more circular, rectangular, square or other shaped and usually elongated scintillation plastic segments (8, 9, 10), each of which detects light (photons) generated by myon particles and natural background radiation (gamma), each optically isolated from other scintillation segments by completely covering them with an inward reflecting layer (13). The myondetector enligt skyddskrav 1, kangnetecknad av att det active detector system (6) som innehåller åtminstone två scintillationsplastsegment (8, 9, 10) möjliggör att myonpartiklar kan separeras från den normal natural bakgrundsstrålningens. 2. The myon detector of claim 1; characterized in that an active detector system (6) comprising at least two scintillation plastic segments (8, 9, 10) enables the separation of myon particles from natural normal background (gamma) particles. 3. Myondetector enligt shields 1 and 2, tilt pathway constructs med flera segment, det wedge constructs som innehåller fler än två scintillationsplastsegment (8, 9, 10), möjliggör att myonpartiklamas rörelsebanor kan attstéllas (10) sk sända ut fotoner samtidigt innan en software kan fastställa myonpartiklamas rörelsebanor. 3. Myone detector according to protection requirements 1 and 2; characterized in that the multiple segment structure of the myone detector, i.e., the structure containing more than two scintillation plastic segments (8, 9, 10), enables the determination of the motion paths of myon particles using the simultaneous condition that two or more adjacent scintillation plastic segments (10) the software determines the trajectories of myon particles. 4. Myondetector enrollt shields 1, 2 and 3, rotating scintillationsplastic segment (8, 9, 10) som optic harness isolation means for detecting active detector system (6) som uppvisar flera segment, harnessed med en ljussensor (11) I have, ljussensorer omvandlar mottagna fotoner till elpulser som överförs till en lagringsenhet via en dataöverföringsledning (12). 4. Myone detector according to protection requirements 1, 2 and 3; characterized in that each of the optically isolated scintillation resin segments (8, 9, 10) of the multi-segment active detector array (6) is provided at its other end with a light sensor (11) which converts the received photons into electrical pulses transmitted to the storage unit. 5. Myondetector encompass panel 1, 2 and 3, tilt scanners with scintillationsplastic segment (8, 9, 10) som optisk har isolerats från varandra i det active detector system (6) som uppvisar flera segment, har försetts med en eller flera ljussensorer (11) i båda ändar, ljussensorer omvandlar mottagna fotoner till elpulser som överförs till en lagringsenhet via en dataöverföringsledning (12) så att träffpunkterna av de myonpartiklar som träffat de olika scintilläsplast. 5. Myone detector according to protection requirements 1, 2 and 3; characterized in that some or all of the optically isolated scintillation resin segments (8, 9, 10) of the multi-segment active detector system (6) are provided at each end with one or more light sensors (11) which convert the received photons into electrical pulses transmitted to the storage unit 12 , in order to determine programmatically the locations of myone particles that have collided with different scintillation resin segments (8, 9, 10). 6. Myone detector according to protection requirements 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5; characterized in that, when using a multi-segment embodiment of the invention, the condition of segment coexistence can be eliminated, whereby the equipment can determine the gamma activity (gamma radiation) of the environment being studied. SKYDDSKRAV 6. Myondetektor enligt skyddskrav 1, 2, 3, 4 och 5, kännetecknad av att när utföringsformen av uppfinningen med flera segment används, kan segmentens samtidighets villkor uteslutas, varvid gammaaktiveten (gammastrålningen) i den undersökäl av fasting.