scienceillustrated.com.au | 59Particle Physics Used to
Find Hidden Chamber
In 2016, muon detectors revealed two hidden cavities in Egypt’s biggest and most
enigmatic pyramid. The next step is the exploration of the interior of the huge structure.I
n late 2016, scientists armed with high-tech particle
detectors discovered two unknown chambers on the
north and north eastern sides of the 146-m-high Great
Pyramid of Giza. The exploration of the two chambers has
only just begun, but provisional data indicates that one
chamber winds into a corridor, which leads further into
the interior of the pyramid.
The discovery was made by means of muon tomography.
Muons are elementary particles, which are produced, as
cosmic radiation from space enters Earth’s atmosphere. The
particles pass through soft materials such as skin and tissue,whereas hard objects such as rocks absorb them to some
extent. During the experiment, scientists managed to spot
high concentrations of muons in specific places under and
beside the pyramid – indicating that the particles had
escaped the rocks relatively easily due to cavities.
The results will be included in a 3D reconstruction
together with laser scans and infrared studies to help
scientists explore the interior of the Great Pyramid of Giza.1
DETECTORPOTENTIAL: Discovery of new chambers and corridors.
CHALLENGE: The mounting of detectors could harm the pyramid.Measurements reveal cavities
2 A detector mounted outside the Great Pyramid of Giza traps the muons that have passed through the huge
structure. Areas with a high concentration of muons could
include potential cavities, as fewer rocks curbed the particles
on their way through the pyramid.1Microscopic muon particles from the upper
layer of the atmosphere are constantly striking
Earth, penetrating the materials they encounter.
Hard materials such as rock trap some of the muons.3 To study promising areas more specifically, place detector plates in the lower chambers of the scientists
pyramid. The plates have been lubricated with a gel of the type
which photographers use to develop film and that is
particularly sensitive to muons.CEA/P. BOURSEILLER/HIP INSTITUTE
By Else Christensen