Muon radiography employing the DIRC principle for density change measurements under volcanoes and fluid reservoirs

Mapping the density distribution and monitoring density changes under volcanoes and geological reservoirs is a major challenge in geology and volcanology. Muon radiography has a high potential to advance this field, but often there are no inexpensive high-end detectors available that are suitable for field installations. A DIRC-type Cherenkov detector as a muon camera has a small dimension and is suited for such field applications (MagmaDIRC idea). In measuring directions and energies of the incoming muons one can turn the mass density integrals along the lines of flight into a radiography image, and by discarting low-energy muons with their blurred angular information one obtains sharper images. In particular one may detect the time variation of the mass density distributions situated above the horizon line in a volcanic edifice that occurs when magma is filling its plumbing system or when the level of a lava lake changes. Using numerical simulations, we discuss design aspects and the requirements of such a DIRC system. Two sites are identified for proof-of-principle field measurements. The required measurement times are estimated for the given site conditions and morphology based on the specifications of an operational DIRC system. The merits of DIRC sensors are contrasted to other muon radiography techniques.