After years of painstaking development, Estonian deep-tech startup GScan presented its first muon tomography scanner muonFLUX Infra.
A spectacular product launch took place in GScan's research and development facility on the 16th of March. Before the eyes of investors, guests and employees, a white-colored scanner was revealed, followed by presentations of the working principles and first results of the world-changing solution.
The novel technology of muon tomography can be used to scan and 3D-map whatever substances, materials or constructions. Muon tomography is a human-friendly alternative to x-ray technology - it is safe for humans, uses less energy and achieves results without direct human intervention. Muon tomography doesn't emit ionizing radiation, but measures safe cosmic flux which is constant and naturally occurring. Average muon flux is around 10 000 particles per square meter per minute.
GScan's tomograph is a huge leap from conventional gamma- or x-ray tomographs as it penetrates much deeper, without damaging anything - alive or molecular. It also enables to scan liquids, which current technologies cannot do. Highly penetrative and safe nature of the scanning technology means it can be well used in customs and security gates. The main difference between previous technologies is that muon tomography enables the exact classification of the materials, which means it is possible to detect even small amounts of narcotics, explosives or firearms, packed in a shipping container full of bananas.
The scanner weighs around 95 kilograms and is completely air- and light resistant. With the size of 150 x 70 x 40 centimeters, the scanner could be fitted almost anywhere and the modular nature allows the company to stack any number of scanners next to each other to widen the measuring area. With the total length of fibers inside the scanner reaching over 15 000 meters, the tomograph guarantees a high yield of mapped muons, which in turn ensures high and constant efficiency of the scanner.