Speaker
Description
We present a new technique aimed at forecasting earthquakes via active sensing of the tectonic induced pressure across faults. The method is based on propagating high energy (TeV-class) muon beams through km-long rock sections underground, actively measuring the pressure induced by tectonic movements, a precursor of ruptures in the earth crust due to exceeding the rock elasto-plastic deformation limit, which in turns drives the earthquake seismic event. Tectonic pressure is monitored through the emittance increase of the muon beam traversing the fault section. We carried out extensive simulations with Fluka and an ad-hoc developed code, performing beam transport of muons in thick layers of crystalline rocks. Our results show the challenges and the great opportunity of a technique potentially capable to use particle accelerators and related technologies (control, diagnostics, detection) to predict the occurring of seismic events, therefore helping to save human lives.
| Abstract Category | Earth Physics |
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