Andrea Cirillo
PhD thesis title: Cosmic Neutron Spectrometry for a Sustainable Agriculture
Academic Tutor: Stefano Luigi Maria Giulini Castiglioni Agosteo
Academic Supervisor: Marco Caresana
Industrial Supervisor: Giacomo Paolo Manessi (Else Nuclear s.r.l.)
PhD cycle: 37° (see all student profiles of the same cycle > LINK)
BSc: Energy Engineering, Politecnico di Milano
MSc: Nuclear Engineering, Politecnico di Milano
EURADOS Young Scientist Conference Support (YSCS) 2022 for IM2022 / IEEE Metrology for Agriculture and Forest Best Conference Paper Award
Thesis abstract
In my PhD, I am working to develop a neutron detector that can be used to measure soil moisture in a cultivated field. The instrument measures the natural cosmic radioactivity, which is affected by the water in the surrounding area and can be used to quantify it. This method is cheaper and faster than commercially available soil moisture probes, which can cover limited areas. My purpose is developing a valuable tool for the realisation of a truly precise agriculture: in fact, wise management strategies of the natural resources are necessary to limit the decline of entire ecosystems, that are deprived of their water which is used for irrigation.
Personal interest in my research theme
It is always fascinating for me to notice how radioactivity is a powerful tool to investigate the characteristics of the world around us. It is especially true in this topic, in which I study the interactions of microscopic particles to measure very practical quantities on a scale of some hectares. Moreover, when the effect of the water molecules on natural radioactivity measurements was first observed, it was considered an unwanted noise on the signal. It is almost stunning that this unwanted noise is now the beating heart of my research.
