Compton scattering tomograph for agricultural soil physics studies in field environment

Author(s)

Francisco de Assis Scannavino Junior

• Document type: Doctoral Thesis
• Press: São Carlos.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Instituto de Física de São Carlos (IFSC/BT)
• Defense date: 2013-09-12

Examining board members

Paulo Estevão Cruvinel; Joaquim Teixeira de Assis; Mateus Jose Martins; Fernando Fernandes Paiva; Martin Eduardo Poletti

• Advisor: Paulo Estevão Cruvinel

Abstract

This research presents a new tomograph scattering of photons by the Compton Effect for studies of agricultural soils in a field environment. Its development is based on computational physics, in an advanced nuclear instrumentation and techniques of Compton scattering. The side by side position of X-ray source and solid-state detector, operating in the Compton Effect, enables a noninvasive technique for direct application in the agricultural field, without sampling and preserving the natural soil conditions. This field Compton tomograph has a detection system based on Silicon photodiode (SDD Silicon Drift Detector) with detection efficiency of 18.9% (@ 35keV), electronic module of signal processing with reduced dimensions (7.0 x 10.0 x 2.5 cm) and low power consumption (2.5 W). Another relevant aspect is its measuring probe that enables the acquisition of tomographic projections and its georeferencing that allows a correct identification of the analysis location. Results obtained directly in agricultural field enabled the achievement of tomographic images with spatial resolution of 1x1cm2, range approach of 10x10 cm2, densitometric measurements in the range from 1.0 to 1.3 g/cm3 and energy of 37.8 keV, which enabled in-depth measures of agricultural interest. (AU)