Speaker
Description
SilentBorder2 is a newly confirmed Horizon Europe project that builds upon the results of the SilentBorder project and will redefine non-invasive cargo inspection by exploiting both natural and artificial muon sources for imaging applications across diverse cargo types and configurations. Traditional muon scattering tomography systems rely solely on the natural flux of cosmic muons, enabling safe, ionising radiation-free 3D imaging but remaining limited by low muon statistics and consequently long scan times.
SilentBorder2 addresses these limitations by introducing a compact, high-flux artificial muon source to significantly accelerate image acquisition while enhancing spatial resolution to sub-millimeter precision. In parallel, the project tackles the central challenge of generalisation by developing methods capable of interpreting complex, mixed, and previously unseen cargo scenarios.
To achieve this, SilentBorder2 will combine physics-informed machine learning, advanced reconstruction algorithms, and multimodal data from muon, gamma, and neutron detectors. This approach will ensure robust material classification and anomaly detection under realistic customs conditions, extending the capabilities of existing X-ray-based inspection systems.
Developed in close collaboration with European customs and border authorities, SilentBorder2 ensures experimental validation in representative operational environments, as well as compliance with EU safety and radiation protection standards. By advancing both muon-based imaging methodologies and data interpretation frameworks, SilentBorder2 aims to deliver faster, more accurate, and operationally robust cargo inspection. This talk will introduce the SilentBorder2 project and outline the key scientific and technical activities planned over its three-year duration.