Brendan Reagan

Stories

Laser-driven muon beams image through concrete for the first time

As of September 2026: Led earlier single-pulse imaging experiment

In June 2026, researchers at a Romanian laser facility fired the world's most powerful beam through a two-meter concrete wall and into a black van. The shadow it cast revealed a stack of lead blocks—the first image produced almost entirely by muons, particles created on demand by the laser.

Updated Sep 26

Notable Quotes

Saying 100% that these are muons is very tricky. We were able to generate an image through all this shielding, so we declared success.

from Laser-driven muon beams image through concrete for the first time · Updated Sep 26

The physics have been demonstrated now—the technology is there.

from Laser-driven muon beams image through concrete for the first time · Updated Sep 26