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Researchers propose using upward-going muons produced from cosmic ray interactions with the Moon's regolith as a novel method for lunar subsurface imaging. Unlike Earth, the Moon's lack of atmosphere allows hadrons escaping the regolith to decay in the near-vacuum above the surface, producing detectable muon signatures. Monte Carlo simulations demonstrate that muon flux variations can detect underground cavities within two minutes and water resources within 36 minutes using a 1 square meter detector on the lunar surface or in orbit.
Why it matters
This technique could provide a non-invasive method for mapping lunar subsurface structures, essential for identifying potential habitats in lava tubes and locating water ice deposits critical for future lunar exploration and sustained human presence on the Moon.
Understand the Science
⚠️ Preprint – Noch nicht peer-reviewed
Dieser Artikel wurde noch nicht von unabhängigen Experten begutachtet. Die Ergebnisse sind vorläufig und sollten mit Vorsicht interpretiert werden.
Abstract: We propose a novel muon Moonshot concept for lunar subsurface tomography based on upward-going muons originated from the lunar regolith. Unlike the Earth, the Moon lacks an atmosphere, leaving a dense regolith below and a near-vacuum environment above. Consequently, while most downward-going hadrons are absorbed before decaying, upward-going hadrons escaping the regolith can decay in flight, producing a significant source of lunar muons. These muons are detectable by instruments on the lunar surface or in near-lunar orbit. We perform Monte Carlo simulations to investigate their energy spectra, angular distributions, and integrated fluxes under various theoretical and detector configurations. The results indicate that the lunar muon flux is sensitive to detector altitude under a flat-terrain assumption, demonstrating its potential as a novel non-invasive probe of shallow subsurface voids. We also present case studies on the detection of underground cavities and water resources, with cavity-induced flux variations observable in less than two minutes and weaker water signals distinguishable after about 36 minutes of data collection with a $1~mathrm{m^2}$ detector, and discuss potential implementations in future lunar missions.
Source: The muon Moonshot: Moon subsurface tomography with upward-going muons