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Active interrogation of underground piezoelectric fabrics using high energy muon beams propagating across seismogenic faults
Authors:
L. Serafini,
A. Bacci,
L. Bandiera,
F. Broggi,
I. Drebot,
A. Frazzitta,
A. M. Marotta,
G. Muttoni,
G. Paternò,
V. Petrillo,
M. Rossetti Conti,
A. R. Rossi,
S. Samsam,
M. Voltolini,
M. Zucali
Abstract:
In this paper we extend a previous analysis of a newly conceived technique based on active interrogation of tectonic stress evolution in regions hosting active seismogenic faults. The aim is to monitor and detect stable and reliable precursor signals on an adequate time scale, well before an earthquake event, that can play a crucial role in activating alarms for civil protection systems. The precu…
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In this paper we extend a previous analysis of a newly conceived technique based on active interrogation of tectonic stress evolution in regions hosting active seismogenic faults. The aim is to monitor and detect stable and reliable precursor signals on an adequate time scale, well before an earthquake event, that can play a crucial role in activating alarms for civil protection systems. The precursor signal relies on continuous measurements of the time evolution of tectonic stress, obtained by interrogating underground, with a high energy collimated muon beam, the piezoelectric fabrics present in quartz rich granite like rocks surrounding a known seismogenic fault in the Earth crust. Beam propagation through the rock across the active fault conveys to a detector at the exit of the traversal information on the amplitude of the piezoelectric field, which scales with the tectonic stress applied to quartz crystals embedded in the rock. The system, named ERMES (Earthquake Reconnaissance using Muon beam Evolution in Silicon dioxide), differs from other techniques under study detecting electromagnetic signals generated by piezoelectricity outside the Earth crust, as it probes piezoelectric effects directly inside the source region of the associated electromagnetic field, namely the near field within quartz crystals rather than the far field in open space. We present a focused analysis of muon beam manipulation after rock traversal and before detection using a newly conceived muonic lens, and we explore the maximum rock penetration capability of a high energy muon beam, reaching about 3 km of rock thickness for a 10 TeV beam. Owing to the peculiarity of muon propagation through such kilometer scale targets, we cross checked previous FLUKA Monte Carlo simulations with Geant4 to clarify the secondary muons role generated by primary muon interactions in solid matter over long propagation lengths.
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Submitted 15 January, 2026;
originally announced January 2026.
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Remote sensing of tectonic induced stress across faults using high energy muon beams
Authors:
L. Serafini,
G. Muttoni,
A. Bacci,
F. Broggi,
L. Giuliano,
A. M. Marotta,
V. Petrillo,
E. Puppin,
M. Rossetti Conti,
A. R. Rossi,
S. Samsam,
M. Voltolini,
M. Zucali
Abstract:
We illustrate a theoretical study of a newly conceived technique using high-energy muon beams (TeV-class) propagating through thick (km-long) crystalline rock layers subject to tectonic-induced stress, potentially capable of actively monitoring the temporal evolution of the pressure rise in seismic fault zones associated with earthquake triggering when the induced tectonic pressure reaches and ove…
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We illustrate a theoretical study of a newly conceived technique using high-energy muon beams (TeV-class) propagating through thick (km-long) crystalline rock layers subject to tectonic-induced stress, potentially capable of actively monitoring the temporal evolution of the pressure rise in seismic fault zones associated with earthquake triggering when the induced tectonic pressure reaches and overcomes the rock elasto-plastic deformation limit. This technique could contribute to improving earthquake forecasting statistics in seismically active regions, offering support for seismic hazard assessment and prevention strategies.
Active monitoring of the induced tectonic stress and its time evolution is achieved by remote sensing of the electric field generated in quartz crystals embedded in crystalline rocks by piezoelectric effects. In this context, tectonic pressure refers to the time-dependent stress field acting on the rock body due to tectonic forces, which adds to the time-independent lithostatic pressure resulting from the weight of overlying materials. High-energy muon beams transmitted through a rock layer subject to tectonic pressure will be affected in their transverse phase space distributions by the piezoelectric fields, therefore transferring to a detector the information on the applied tectonic stress.
Finally, we illustrate the design of a proof-of-principle experiment to be conducted in a standard accelerator laboratory, using moderate-energy muons (GeV-class) propagating through granite slabs subject to a press-induced stress reaching the rupture limit. A zero-generation proof-of-principle test can also be performed using 20-150\,MeV electron beams transmitted through single quartz crystals subject to variable pressure.
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Submitted 13 June, 2025;
originally announced June 2025.
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Summary Report on the 2024 African School of Physics Program for Learners
Authors:
Kétévi A. Assamagan,
Abdelkarim Boskri,
Kenneth Cecire,
Mohamed Chabab,
Christine Darve,
Farida Fassi,
Mounia Laassiri,
Sanae Samsam,
Janna Vischer
Abstract:
On April 15-19, 2024, as a part of the eighth African School of Physics, ASP2024, we organized a program for learners from selected high schools in the vicinity of Marrakesh, Morocco. In this event, within a week, we reached out to over a thousand high school students, aka learners, from many high schools in the region of Marrakesh. We present a summary report on these outreach activities.
On April 15-19, 2024, as a part of the eighth African School of Physics, ASP2024, we organized a program for learners from selected high schools in the vicinity of Marrakesh, Morocco. In this event, within a week, we reached out to over a thousand high school students, aka learners, from many high schools in the region of Marrakesh. We present a summary report on these outreach activities.
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Submitted 30 July, 2024;
originally announced August 2024.
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Full Inverse Compton Scattering: Total Transfer of Energy and Momentum from Electrons to Photons
Authors:
Luca Serafini,
Vittoria Petrillo,
Sanae Samsam
Abstract:
In this article we discuss a peculiar regime of Compton Scattering that assures the maximum transfer of energy and momentum from free electrons propagating in vacuum to the scattered photons. We name this regime Full Inverse Compton Scattering (FICS) because it is characterized by the maximum and full energy loss of the electrons in collision with photons: up to 100 % of the electron kinetic energ…
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In this article we discuss a peculiar regime of Compton Scattering that assures the maximum transfer of energy and momentum from free electrons propagating in vacuum to the scattered photons. We name this regime Full Inverse Compton Scattering (FICS) because it is characterized by the maximum and full energy loss of the electrons in collision with photons: up to 100 % of the electron kinetic energy is indeed transferred to the photon. In the case of relativistic electrons, characterized by a large Lorentz factor (gamma >> 1), FICS regime corresponds to an incident photon energy equal to mec^2/2 . We interpret such an astonishing result as FICS being the time reversal of direct Compton Scattering of very energetic photons (of energy much greater than mec2) onto atomic electrons. Although the cross section of Compton scattering is decreasing with the energy of the incident photon, making the process less probable with respect to other reactions (pair production, nuclear reactions, etc) when high energetic photons are bombarding a target, the kinematics straightforwardly implies that the back-scattered photons would have an energy reaching asymptotically me^2c^2 . FICS is instead the unique suitable working point in Compton scattering for achieving the total transfer of (kinetic) energy exactly from the electron to the photon. Experiencing transitions from the initial momentum to zero in the laboratory system, in FICS the electron is also subject to very large negative acceleration; this fact can lead to possible experiments of sensing the Unruh temperature and related photon bath. On the other side of the energy dynamic range, low relativistic electrons can be completely stopped by moderate energy photons (tens of keV), leading to full exchange of temperature between electron clouds and photon baths.
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Submitted 26 July, 2024;
originally announced August 2024.