Imaging the Inner Structure of a Nuclear Reactor by Cosmic Muon Radiography

We studied the inner structure of the nuclear reactor of the Japan Atomic Power Company (JAPC) at Tokai, Japan, by the muon radiography. In this study, muon detectors were placed outside of the reactor building. By detecting cosmic muons penetrating through the wall of the reactor building, we could successfully identify the objects such as the containment vessel, pressure vessel, and other structures of the reactor. We also observed a concentration of heavy material which can be attributed to the nuclear fuel assemblies stored in the nuclear fuel storage pool.