Portable X-ray tomography prototype for cultural heritage: design and applications

Abstract X-ray radiography and tomography are widely employed techniques in the Cultural Heritage (CH) field, as testified by the large number of analyses performed for these applications in this field. Specifically, tomography provides fully non-invasive morphological and microstructural information on the internal structure of the sample and can reveal, when possible, hidden details such as ancient repairs or concealed conservation interventions. All these aspects make this technique essential both for gaining insights into production techniques and for assessing the conservation state. One of the main requirements for instrumentation employed in Heritage Science is the versatility of the equipment, as artefacts can vary considerably in size, may have complex and irregular shapes, and exhibit diverse compositions, materials, and manufacturing methods. It is therefore evident that the instrumentation must be readily adaptable to each specific application. This requirement also implies the necessity for portable and open-source equipment. The latter characteristic is of particular importance, as open-source instruments allow for extensive customisation in response to the diverse requirements of different operators. In the framework of the National recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) CHANGES (Cultural Heritage Innovation for Next-Gen Sustainable Society) project, a fruitful collaboration was established with the Department of Physics and Astronomy of the University of Bologna, as regards mainly the detection system, and the Opificio delle Pietre Dure (OPD), acting in the quality of end-user. Taking all the above-mentioned aspects into consideration, at the Department of Physics and Astronomy of the University of Florence and with the crucial support of the CHANGES project, we developed a portable and open-source X-ray tomography system specifically designed for Cultural Heritage applications. In this paper, we present this prototype which offers a highly customisable design that can be tailored to a wide range of operational needs. Graphic abstract