Comparative Analysis of Muon Generators for Cosmic Muon Tomography of Spent Fuel Casks = Análisis comparativo de generadores de muones para tomografía con muones cósmicos en contenedores de combustible gastado

The extended interim storage of spent nuclear fuel has led to a growing interest in advanced monitoring techniques capable of ensuring the integrity of storage casks over long periods. Muography, a non-invasive imaging technique using cosmic muons, has emerged as a promising tool for visualising the internal structures of these dense and opaque casks. This thesis investigates the suitability of two cosmic ray generators, EcoMug and CRY, for muographic applications in the monitoring of spent nuclear fuel casks. Both generators were implemented within a Geant4 simulation framework and assessed based on their flexibility, configuration, and ease of integration with potential detector configurations. In order to validate the theoretical correlations of the simulations, simplified geometric models, including boxes and tubes, were employed. These models provided a controlled environment to test the accuracy of the simulation model in replicating the expected scattering and transmission behaviors of muons. This approach ensures a robust foundation for the future application of muography to more complex structures, such as a CASTOR® V/19 cask.