# A Survey of Electromagnetic Techniques Applied to Cultural Heritage Conservation
###### Abstract  
Cultural Heritage (CH) represents the identity of populations; it is a heritage not only for the culture that produced it, but also for the entire human civilization. Still, preserving it is not an easy task; several factors hinder its preservation, from time and natural disasters to wars and neglect. Science can play a leading role in preserving CH, and among the different techniques available, Electromagnetic (EM) techniques are particularly suitable for this purpose because of their efficacy, safety for both people and materials, and their applicability to artifacts made from different materials and of complex and irregular shapes. Although usually associated with diagnostic applications, EM techniques also have a crucial role in restoration applications thanks to EM radiation treatments for the recovery and consolidation of materials such as wood, paper, parchment, stone, ceramics, and mummies. The state-of-the-art of radiation technologies shows efficacy for the elimination of pests, mold, fungi and bacteria, and for the consolidation of damaged or weakened artifacts. This paper aims to provide a useful tool for a first yet rigorous understanding of the contribution of EM techniques to CH recovery and lifetime extension, also comparing them with traditional methods and highlighting main issues in their application, such as lack of protocols and distrust, and potential risks in their application. cultural heritage; irradiation treatment; ionizing radiation; decontamination; consolidation; restoration; electromagnetic waves 2020 IEEE/RSJ Web Conference 2020 IEEE/RSJ  
either of the two lists mentioned in paragraphs 2 and 4 of Article 11 shall in no way be construed to mean that it does not have an outstanding universal value\" [4] (Article 12). CH also has significant economic value; in fact, the art market is a global one, involving private collectors, auction houses, and insurance companies. The identity value, together with the economic one, has brought about the need for dedicated regulations [5; 6]. An emblematic case in this sense is represented by Italy, where there is an _export veto_ (a unique case in the world) on cultural goods of particular interest to the country [7]. As things stand, CH preservation is a must, but it also represents a real challenge that requires close collaboration among art historians, conservators, museum directors, and, last but not least, scientists. The fact that scientists could be a fundamental asset to the world of art started to manifest itself in the first half of last century with activities focused on the analysis of works of art; it was what we now commonly call _diagnostics_. The only country bringing to attention the conservation issue together with the diagnostic one at the time was France. The literature reviewed confirms France's excellence in irradiation techniques for disinfection and consolidation of CH artifacts, particularly because of the experience accumulated in the last 50 years [8]. The Louvre hosts the Accelerateur Grand Louvre d'Analyse Elementaire (AGLAE), which is \"the only particle accelerator in the world fully dedicated to the physio-chemical characterization of heritage materials\" [9]. Romania [10], Belgium, the Netherlands, and Croatia [11] are gaining an emerging role in the use of EM techniques applied to CH conservation, but also Brazil [12] and Tunisia [13], probably due to an open-mindedness towards these techniques, which are often viewed with suspicion in different countries even today. The state of the art reveals a development in this type of technique mostly for the application to wood, paper, and parchment artifacts, but also stone and ceramics, and for artifacts that have a strong identity value, either religious or historical, but also related to the local community life and that have suffered major damages due to war, natural disasters, or pest attacks, or that experience particular wear [14]. Many publications are dedicated to the effect of radiations, mostly gamma radiation, on organic material.