Tracking decay positrons in a magnetic field for muon microscope applications

Abstract

We present a theoretical calculation for a feasibility study of the Muon Microscope, which is intended to add positional resolution within the sample by tracking down the positron trajectories to its source positions. In the presence of a magnetic field, any positrons whose trajectories have components which are perpendicular to the magnetic field will start to move in a helical path due to the Lorentz force. Taking special relativity into account, we have analytically determined the trajectories of the positrons in a uniform magnetic field. We also evaluate more realistic cases, such as finite detector spatial resolutions, as well as the effect of positron scattering from the materials in its trajectory.