Comparison of the light flash phenomena observed in space and in laboratory experiments
Astronauts on Apollo and Skylab missions have reported observing a variety of visual phenomena when their eyes were closed and adapted to darkness. These observations were studied under controlled conditions during a number of sessions on board Apollo and Skylab spacecraft and the data available to date on these so-called light flashes is in the form of descriptions of the phenomena and frequency of occurrence. Similar visual phenomena have been demonstrated in a number of laboratories by exposing the eyes of human subjects to beams of neutrons, alphas, pions, and protons. More than one physical mechanism is involved in the laboratory and space phenomena. No direct comparison of the laboratory and space observations has been made by observers who have experienced both. However, the range of visual phenomena observed in the laboratory is consistent with the Apollo and Skylab observations. Measured detection efficiencies can be used to estimate the frequencies with which various phenomena would be observed if the subject was exposed to cosmic rays in space.
- Research Organization:
- Brookhaven National Lab., Upton, NY (USA)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- US Energy Research and Development Administration (ERDA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- EY-76-C-02-0016
- OSTI ID:
- 7312082
- Report Number(s):
- BNL--22841
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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ALPHA BEAMS
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63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ALPHA BEAMS
ASTRONAUTS
BEAMS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
BUILDINGS
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
HELIUM 4 BEAMS
ION BEAMS
MESON BEAMS
NEUTRON BEAMS
NUCLEON BEAMS
OPTICS
PARTICLE BEAMS
PERSONNEL
PION BEAMS
PROTON BEAMS
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RADIATIONS
RADIOINDUCTION
SPACE FLIGHT
VISIBLE RADIATION
VISION