Detectors and Cultural Heritage: The INFN-CHNet Experience

Abstract

Detectors are a key feature of the contemporary scientific approach to cultural heritage (CH), both for diagnostics and conservation. INFN-CHNet is the network of the Italian National Institute of Nuclear Physics that develops and applies new instrumentation for the study of CH. This process results in both optimized traditional state-of-the-art and highly innovative detection setups for spectrometric techniques. Examples of the former are X-rays, gamma-rays, visible-light and particles spectrometers tailored for CH applications, with optimized performances, reliability, weight, transportability, cost, absorbed power, and complementarity with other techniques. Regarding the latter, examples are ARDESIA, the array of detectors at the DAΦNE-Light facility, the MAXRS detection setup at the Riken-RAL muon beamline and the imaging facilities at the LENA Laboratory. Paths for next-generation instruments have been suggested, as in the case of the X-ray Superconductive Detectors and X-ray Microcalorimeter Spectrometers, allowing astonishing improvement in energy resolution. Many issues in CH can now be addressed thanks to scientific techniques exploiting the existing detectors, while many others are still to be addressed and require the development of new approaches and detectors.

The provenance of the raw material and the manufacturing technology of copper artefacts from the Copper Age hoard from Magyaregres, Hungary

“…The concentrations of eight elements (Co, Ni, Ag, Sb, Au, Pb, Bi and As) were measured by mean High Resolution Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer [HR-ICP-MS] model Element2 manufactured by Thermo Fisher Scientific (Bremen, Germany) at the Laboratori Nazionali Gran Sasso, Assergi, Italy [ 72 ].…”

The Role of PIXE and XRF in Heritage Science: The INFN-CHNet LABEC Experience

“…Another crucial difference is the quantitative analysis that can be carried out with PIXE technique, and it is not typically possible with XRF analysis in HS [26]. Experimental aspects of the PIXE and XRF techniques are reported in [27].…”

“…Another SDD detector will monitor the beam current detecting the X-rays emitted by the exit window. As underlined in the article [27], with the expertise of the INFN-CHNet group with detector systems, other techniques can be added to the ones already planned.…”

X-ray Tomography Unveils the Construction Technique of Un-Montu’s Egyptian Coffin (Early 26th Dynasty)

“…To overcome these limitations, the X-ray Tomography Group of the Department of Physics and Astronomy of Bologna University designed and developed several transportable CT systems devoted to cultural heritage analysis [22,[57][58][59]. These systems are characterized by high flexibility and versatility and allow the tomographic investigation of a wide range of objects with varied shapes and sizes, as well as an optimized acquisition on a case-by-case basis.…”