Using negative muons as a non-destructive probe of material composition

Elemental analysis is a process in which a sample is analysed for its composition. Often this is accomplished by destructive and damaging techniques. Clearly, such techniques are not desirable for valuable items (either scientific or monetary). Therefore, techniques of non-destructive bulk elemental analysis are desirable, for example in engineering, Earth and archaeological sciences. Negative muons offer the possibility of a non-destructive multi-elemental analysis.