Non-invasive microstructural analysis of bowed stringed instruments with synchrotron radiation X-ray microtomography

The structural analysis of historical musical instruments is a fundamental tool for the definition of restoration and conservation protocols, as well as for the study of ancient manufacturing techniques and the acoustic analysis related to this class of cultural objects. The importance and the value of typical bowed stringed instruments, on the other hand, require a non-destructive approach with strict environmental control, fast acquisition times and high spatial resolution. 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. 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 the characterization of their internal structure, defects, wood thickness and density as well as the dendrochronological investigation of historical violins.