Revealing Hidden Worlds with Cosmic Particles – Muography Researchers Gather in Budapest
Volcanoes, geological formations, industrial facilities and underground structures can now be investigated using cosmic particles arriving from outer space. Specialists in this rapidly advancing field, known as muography, gathered in Budapest in early June for the Muographers 2026 conference, organised by the HUN-REN Wigner Research Centre for Physics.
More than 130 researchers and industry experts from 27 countries participated in the event, either in person or online. The conference series provides an international forum for scientists and developers working on the measurement of cosmic-ray muons and their scientific and industrial applications, enabling them to present their latest discoveries, technological developments and innovations.
The programme featured plenary lectures, workshops, poster sessions, instrument exhibitions and a dedicated symposium entitled Muography in Industry. Discussions covered a wide range of topics, from next-generation detectors and artificial muon sources to fundamental and applied research, as well as emerging industrial and societal applications of the technology.
Particular attention was devoted to industrial uses of muography. Panel discussions explored applications in geotechnical and infrastructure monitoring, mining, and security and defence, bringing together representatives of international companies and research institutions.
One of the highlights of the event was the first Muography School, organised as part of the conference and supported by Los Alamos National Laboratory. Twenty-four early-career researchers participated in lectures and laboratory sessions covering the physical properties of cosmic radiation and atmospheric muons, measurement techniques, and a broad spectrum of scientific and technological applications.
The Budapest conference demonstrated that muography has evolved beyond a fascinating field of fundamental research and is increasingly contributing to the solution of industrial and societal challenges. Researchers at the HUN-REN Wigner Research Centre for Physics play an active role in the international scientific community and continue to contribute significantly to the advancement of this versatile technology.
A snapshot from the conference.
Muography School with Gergő Hamar
| Muography is an imaging technique that uses muons produced when cosmic rays interact with the Earth's atmosphere to investigate the internal structure of large objects. These high-energy charged particles can penetrate hundreds of metres of rock and other dense materials, while their number and trajectories change depending on the density of the material they pass through. By measuring the flux and trajectories of these particles, researchers can map the internal structure of an object in much the same way that X-rays are used to image the human body. The method can be applied to the study of geological formations, industrial facilities and other structures that are difficult to access using conventional techniques. |
HUN-REN Wigner RCP instrument exhibition with Gergely Surányi
