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Measurements of Materials Shielding Properties with 1 GeV/nuc56Fe

Journal Article · · Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics ResearchB
OSTI ID:901821
The design of future spacecraft such as the Crew ExplorationVehicle must take into account the radiation shielding properties of boththe structural components as well as dedicated shielding materials. Sincemodest depths of shielding stop the vast majority of Solar EnergeticParticles (SEP), the greater challenge is posed by the need to shieldcrew from the Galactic Cosmic Rays (GCR), which include highly-chargedand highly-energetic particles. Here, we report on results from testsperformed with beams of 1 GeV/nuc 56Fe at the Brookhaven NationalLaboratory. A wide variety of targets, both elemental and composite, wereplaced in the particle beams, and the spectra of particles emerging fromthe targets were measured using a stack of silicon detectors. Results arepresented primarily in terms of dose reduction per g cm-2 of targetmaterial, and support the conclusions of an earlier calculation by Wilsonet al. showing that performance improves as the shield's mass numberdecreases, with hydrogen being by far the most effective. The data alsoshow that, as depth increases, the incremental benefit of addingshielding decreases, particularlyfor aluminum and other elements withhigher atomic mass numbers.
Research Organization:
Ernest Orlando Lawrence Berkeley NationalLaboratory, Berkeley, CA (US)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Director, Office of Science; National Aeronautics andSpace Administration
DOE Contract Number:
AC02-05CH11231
OSTI ID:
901821
Report Number(s):
LBNL--60165; BnR: 400409900
Journal Information:
Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics ResearchB, Journal Name: Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics ResearchB Journal Issue: 2 Vol. 252
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English