Electronic “Eyes” in Russia Aim to Reveal What Lies Beneath the Ground
The new technology can be used for deep geological exploration, allowing specialists to assess underground formations in real time.
Russian electronics holding Roselectronics has unveiled a new generation of high-temperature photomultiplier tubes, according to the company’s press service. The ultra-sensitive devices are designed to determine the composition and structure of underground layers in real time.
According to Alexey Vyaznikov, CEO of the Central Research Institute Elektron, the first prototype units of the new photomultipliers match foreign counterparts on key parameters, including sensitivity, dark current levels, and noise. Because of the demanding requirements of geological exploration companies, such instruments had not previously been manufactured in Russia.
How It Works and Why Size Matters
Another critical parameter for deep geological exploration equipment is compactness.
The holding says the photomultiplier tubes operate using the principle of neutron logging. A neutron source is placed inside the borehole, and its radiation passes through rock formations. When neutrons interact with atomic nuclei in oil, gas, uranium, or ore, they scatter and return to the detector.
The device captures faint flashes of light and converts them into an electrical signal. Based on this data, operators at the surface can determine the composition and structure of underground formations in real time.
