DMSP dosimetry data: a space measurement and mapping of upset-causing phenomena

Technical Report · Tue Dec 01 00:00:00 EST 1987

OSTI ID:7059377

Mullen, E G; Gussenhoven, M S; Lynch, K A; Brautigam, D H

Data from the DMSP/F7 satellite-dosimeter star-event counters are presented. The DMSP dosimeter star-event counters measure the number of pulses that exceed set energy deposition levels (40 MeV for three detectors and 75 MeV for the fourth detector) behind four different thicknesses of aluminum shielding. The term star event is used because linear-energy-transfer depositions above 40 MeV can be produced by high-energy proton or heavy-ion interactions with nuclei in the detector creating a star-type release of energetic secondaries. The energy deposition that creates the high-energy pulses in the detectors can come either directly from incident cosmic rays, directly from high-energy protons that traverse long path lengths in the detector volume, indirectly from nuclear reactions in the detector created by incident high-energy protons, or indirectly from nuclear reactions in the vicinity of the detector which create recoiling nuclei that deposit energy in the detector. These nuclear stars and direct energy pulses create single event upsets (SEUs) in microelectronic components in the near-Earth space environment. Properties of the star channel of the dosimeter on DMSP/F7, the star-count maps of the 840-km region of space, and their relation to upset phenomena are described.

• Research Organization: Air Force Geophysics Lab., Hanscom AFB, MA (USA)
• OSTI ID: 7059377
• Report Number(s): AD-A-190921/7/XAB; AFGL-TR-88-0022
• Resource Relation: Other Information: Pub. in IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) Transactions on Nuclear Science, Vol. NS-34, No. 6, 1251-1255(Dec 1987)
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
COSMIC RADIATION
DOSIMETRY
ENERGY SPECTRA
ENERGY LEVELS
ENERGY TRANSFER
HEAVY IONS
LENGTH
MAPPING
MAPS
MICROELECTRONICS
NUCLEAR REACTIONS
NUCLEI
PROTONS
PULSES
SHIELDING
STARS
THICKNESS
VOLUME
BARYONS
CHARGED PARTICLES
DIMENSIONS
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
FERMIONS
HADRONS
IONIZING RADIATIONS
IONS
NUCLEONS
RADIATIONS
SPECTRA
640101* - Astrophysics & Cosmology- Cosmic Radiation