Tsvetan Dachev

Analysis of the calibration results obtained with Liulin-4J spectrometer-dosimeter on protons and heavy ions.

We are developing a portable dosimeter (Liulin-4J) based on a silicon semiconductor detector for use in measuring the absorbed dose from primary or secondary cosmic rays to astronauts and airplane crews. The dosimeter can measure not only the flux and dose rate, but also the deposited energy spectrum for silicon in per unit time. In order to calibrate the dosimeter, we have carried out exposures at the NIRS cyclotron and HIMAC heavy ion synchrotron facilities. We obtained a detector response function for using in measuring energy deposition and LET.

Time profile of cosmic radiation exposure during the EXPOSE-E mission: the R3DE instrument.

The aim of this paper is to present the time profile of cosmic radiation exposure obtained by the Radiation Risk Radiometer-Dosimeter during the EXPOSE-E mission in the European Technology Exposure Facility on the International Space Stations Columbus module. Another aim is to make the obtained results available to other EXPOSE-E teams for use in their data analysis. Radiation Risk Radiometer-Dosimeter is a low-mass and small-dimension automatic device that measures solar radiation in four channels and cosmic ionizing radiation as well. The main results of the present study include the following: (1) three different radiation sources were detected and quantified-galactic cosmic rays (GCR), energetic protons from the South Atlantic Anomaly (SAA) region of the inner radiation belt, and energetic electrons from the outer radiation belt (ORB); (2) the highest daily averaged absorbed dose rate of 426 μGy d(-1) came from SAA protons; (3) GCR delivered a much smaller daily absorbed dose rate of 91.1 μGy d(-1), and the ORB source delivered only 8.6 μGy d(-1). The analysis of the UV and temperature data is a subject of another article (Schuster et al., 2012 ).

Use of energy deposition spectrometer Liulin for individual monitoring of aircrew

Silicon energy deposition spectrometer Liulin was primarily developed for cosmic radiation monitoring onboard spacecrafts. Nowadays, Liulin type detectors are also used to characterise radiation field on board aircraft, at alpine observatories and behind the shielding of heavy ion accelerators. In this work, experiments and calibrations performed in these radiation fields are presented and the method developed for calculation of ambient dose equivalent H*(10) on board aircraft is described. Since 2001, a simple method employing the energy deposition spectra had been used to determine H*(10) on board aircraft but, in 2004, it became clear that the resulting values were strongly biased at locations close to Earths equator. An improved method for the determination of H*(10) on board aircraft using the Liulin detector was developed. It took into account the composition of the radiation field via the ratio of absorbed doses D(low) and D(neut) reflecting the contributions from low-LET particles and neutrons, respectively. It resulted in much better agreement with the EPCARD computer code for all aircraft locations; relative differences were within 11 % for low-LET and 20 % for neutron components of H*(10).

EXPOSE-R cosmic radiation time profile

The aim of the paper is to present the time profile of cosmic radiation exposure obtained by theradiationrisksradiometer-dosimeter(R3DR) duringtheESAexposition facilityfor EXPOSE-Rmission (EXPOSE-R) in the EXPOSE-R facility outside the Russian Zvezda module of the International Space Station (ISS). Another aim is to make the obtained results available to other EXPOSE-R teams for use in their data analysis. R3DR is a low mass and small dimensions automated device, which measures solar radiation in four channels and in addition cosmic ionizing radiation. The main results of cosmic ionizing radiation measurements are: three different radiation sources were detected and quantified: galactic cosmic rays (GCR), energetic protons from the inner radiation belt (IRB) in the region of the South Atlantic anomaly and energetic electrons from the outer radiation belt (ORB). The highest daily averaged absorbed dose rate of 506 μGy day �1 came from IRB protons; GCR delivered much smaller daily absorbed dose rates of 81.4 μGy day �1 on average, and ORB source delivered on average a dose rate of 89 μGy day �1 . The IRB and ORB daily averaged absorbed dose rates were higher than those observed during the ESA exposition facility for EXPOSE-E mission (EXPOSE-E), whereas the GCR rate was smaller than that measured during the EXPOSE-E mission. The reason for this difference is much less surrounding constructions shielding of the R3DR instrument in comparison with the R3DE instrument. Received 12 March 2014, accepted 19 March 2014

R3DE: Radiation Risk Radiometer-Dosimeter on the International Space Station—Optical Radiation Data Recorded During 18 Months of EXPOSE-E Exposure to Open Space

Radiation Risk Radiometer-Dosimeter E (R3DE) served as a device for measuring ionizing and non-ionizing radiation as well as cosmic radiation reaching biological samples located on the EXPOSE platform EXPOSE-E. The duration of the mission was almost 1.5 years (2008-2009). With four channels, R3DE detected the wavelength ranges of photosynthetically active radiation (PAR, 400-700 nm), UVA (315-400 nm), UVB (280-315 nm), and UVC (<280 nm). In addition, the temperature was recorded. Cosmic ionizing radiation was assessed with a 256-channel spectrometer dosimeter (see separate report in this issue). The light and UV sensors of the device were calibrated with spectral measurement data obtained by the Solar Radiation and Climate Experiment (SORCE) satellite as standard. The data were corrected with respect to the cosine error of the diodes. Measurement frequency was 0.1 Hz. Due to errors in data transmission or temporary termination of EXPOSE power, not all data could be acquired. Radiation was not constant during the mission. At regular intervals of about 2 months, low or almost no radiation was encountered. The radiation dose during the mission was 1823.98 MJ m(-2) for PAR, 269.03 MJ m(-2) for UVA, 45.73 MJ m(-2) for UVB, or 18.28 MJ m(-2) for UVC. Registered sunshine duration during the mission was about 152 days (about 27% of mission time).The surface of EXPOSE was most likely turned away from the Sun for considerably longer. R3DE played a crucial role on EXPOSE-EuTEF (EuTEF, European Technology Exposure Facility), because evaluation of the astrobiology experiments depended on reliability of the data collected by the device. Observed effects in the samples were weighted by radiation doses measured by R3DE.

Tissue equivalent detector data obtained recently on Mir space station. Comparison with solid state detector data

Abstract Tissue equivalent and Solid State Detector (SSD) measurements of the radiation environment inside the Mir space station were performed during the Antares mission in 1992 and long period after it. Interesting results about radiation measurements show (a) the South Atlantic Anomaly (SAA) crossing, (b) the increase of radiation near the poles and (c) the effects of solar eruptions (the most important one occurring in early November 1992). These data give also information about the dose and the quality factor of the radiation received by the cosmonauts during different missions.

Radiation Environment on the International Space Station During the Solar Particle Events in March 2012

The Liulin-5 charged particle telescope observes the radiation characteristics in the spherical tissue-equivalent phantom of MATROSHKA-R international project on the International Space Station (ISS) since June 2007. In this paper attention is drawn to the results from the measurements of dose rate and particle flux increase during the Solar Energetic Particles Events (SPE) occurred in March 2012. During that SPE the solar particles penetrated at high geographic latitudes in the regions of the south and north Earth magnetic poles and at 3 < L they caused particle flux and dose rates increase in all three detectors of Liulin-5, located at 40, 60 and 165 mm depths along the phantom’s radius. The maximum flux at 40 mm depth observed outside the South Atlantic Anomaly (SAA) during that SPE reached 7.2 part/cm2.s and the dose rate reached 107.8 μGy/h on 07.03.2012, 13:06 UT at L=4. The additional absorbed dose received from SPE is approximately 180 μGy and additional dose equivalent- approximately 448 μSv. These additional exposures are comparable to the averaged daily absorbed dose and dose equivalent measured in the spherical phantom in ISS during quite radiation conditions. Discussed are the linear energy transfer spectra measured and quality factors obtained during and after the SPE. Compared are data from Liulin-5 and other particle detectors in space during the SPE.

International space station mobile dosimetry unit : A comparison of flight measurements with model calculations

Space radiation measurements were made on the International Space Station (ISS) with the Bulgarian Liulin-E094 Mobile Dosimetry Units (MDU) during 2001. The Liulin-E094 was part of the Dosimetric Mapping experiment lead by Dr. G. Reitz, DLR. Four MDUs were placed at fixed locations: one unit in the ISS Unity Node-1 and three units were located in the US Laboratory module. Space radiation flight measurements were obtained during the time period May 11 - July 26, 2001. In this paper we discuss the development of an MDU shielding model using combinatorial geometry and 3-D visualization and the orientation and placement at the four locations within the ISS. Four shielding distributions were generated for the combined ISS and MDU shielding models. The AP8MAX trapped proton model was used to compute the daily absorbed dose for the four MDUs and are compared with the flight measurements. In addition, the trapped proton anisotropy (East-West effect) was measured for several passes through the South Atlantic Anomaly. Future plans are to compare these measured anisotropic results with computational methods using the Badhwar-Konradi anisotropic model /1/.