Synchrotron-radiation Microtomography for the Non-destructive Structural Evaluation of Bowed Stringed Instruments

摘要

Feasibility studies have been carried out at the SYRMEP beamline of the Elettra synchrotron laboratory in Trieste with the aim of demonstrating the advantages and evaluating the effectiveness of synchrotron radiation X-ray microtomography as a suitable technique for nondestructive analysis of bowed stringed instruments. The particular geometry of the X-ray beam and the use of a novel detector allow structural evaluation of the main details of the instruments with unprecedented richness of details. This, in turn, will allow precise dendrochronological investigation of historical violins, as well as the characterization of their structure, defects, wood thickness and density.