The simulations chain of the MURAVES experiment

TL;DR

This paper presents a comprehensive Monte Carlo simulation framework for the MURAVES project, enabling detailed modeling of cosmic muon interactions and detector responses to study Mt. Vesuvius.

Contribution

It introduces a novel integrated simulation chain combining multiple Monte Carlo programs tailored for muon radiography of volcanoes.

Findings

Simulation framework effectively models muon interactions with volcano material.

Trade-offs between simulation speed and accuracy are analyzed.

Lessons learned are applicable to similar muon radiography studies.

Abstract

The MUon RAdiography of VESuvius (MURAVES) project aims at the study of the summital cone of Mt. Vesuvius, an active and hazardous volcano near Naples, Italy. A detailed Monte Carlo simulation framework is necessary in order to investigate the effects of the experimental constraints and to perform comparisons with the actual observations. Our Monte Carlo setup combines a variety of Monte Carlo programs that address different aspects of cosmic muon simulation, from muon generation in the Earth's upper atmosphere to the response of the detector, including the interactions with the material of the volcano. We will elaborate on the rationale for our technical choices, including trade-off between speed and accuracy, and on the lessons learned, which are of general interest for similar use cases in muon radiography.