Dose equivalent, absorbed dose and charge spectrum investigation in low Earth orbit.

Particle intensity, dose equivalent and absorbed dose have been measured on board the space shuttle Endeavour during STS-108 in December 2001 by Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies (DIAS). The dose estimates are based on very accurate measurements of recoils produced in CR-39 by cosmic ray primary and secondary protons and heavier nuclei and by secondary neutrons. The corresponding LET spectra were used to determine dose equivalent and absorbed dose values. Estimates of the total flux of Z > or = 2 nuclei have been undertaken and a preliminary charge spectrum was measured. Some comparisons are made with preliminary data obtained on STS-105 (ISS Expedition) and other missions using CR-39 detectors.     

Results of dosimetric measurements in space missions.

Detector packages consisting of plastic nuclear track detectors, nuclear emulsions, and theromoluminescence detectors were exposed at different locations inside the space laboratory Spacelab and at the astronauts' body and in different sections of the MIR space station. Total dose, particle fluence rate and linear energy transfer (LET) spectra of heavy ions, number of nuclear disintegrations and fast neutron fluence rates were determined of each exposure. The dose equivalent received by the Payload specialists (PSs) were calculated from the measurements, they range from 190 microSv d-1 to 770 microSv d-1. Finally, a preliminary investigation of results from a particle telescope of two silicon detectors, first used in the last BIORACK mission on STS 76, is reported.     

Dosimetric results on EURECA.

Detector packages were exposed on the European Retrievable Carrier (EURECA) as part of the Biostack experiment inside the Exobiology and Radiation Assembly (ERA) and at several locations around EURECA. The packages consist of different plastic nuclear track detectors, nuclear emulsions and thermoluminescence dosimeters (TLDs). Evaluation of these detectors yields data on absorbed dose and particle and linear energy transfer (LET) spectra. Behind a shielding thickness in front of the detectors of 0.09g cm-2 the doses range between 21.26 Gy and 0.87 Gy depending on the location of the dosimeter. Not all measurement can be explained by calculations.     

Comparison of measured cosmic ray LET spectra with models and predictions.

Radiation effects of cosmic ray nuclei are generally described as a function of the particle LET. For a large number of space missions LET spectra have been measured and models have been developed to calculate these spectra that include the effects of geomagnetic shielding and shielding provided by material. In this paper we compare measured and calculated LET spectra. For low earth orbits events with high local energy deposition, i.e., short range secondaries, contribute significantly to the measured spectra. These events are produced by nuclear interactions, mainly induced by protons from the south atlantic anomaly. The technique to include these contributions in the models depends on the size of radiation sensitive volumes. For sizes comparable to or larger than the range of target secondaries it is essential to separate contributions by target interactions from those of cosmic rays. This separation is possible in experiments which use stacks of plastic nuclear track detectors. The yield of short range events generated by protons and measured in the detector can be calibrated from accelerator experimental data. We present first results for CR-39 detectors.     

核电站工作场所中子能谱和周围剂量当量率测量

中子周围剂量当量是核电站辐射防护监测的主要对象之一,而中子周围剂量当量的评估强烈依赖中子的能量分布。利用自制的多球谱仪对秦山第三核电有限公司（TQNPC）重水反应堆安全壳内5个位置的中子能谱和周围剂量当量率进行了测量。该谱仪由1个³He正比计数器以及9个2.5～12英寸不同直径的聚乙烯球组成,响应函数通过MCNP程序计算,并利用标准²⁵²Cf中子源进行了校准和验证。通过测量的中子能谱,获得了不同工作区域的中子周围剂量当量率及其能量分布,并与中子周围剂量当量率仪和CR-39径迹蚀刻探测器的测量结果进行了比较,为核电站中子剂量的监测提供了相关参考数据。     

PHITS simulations of the Protective curtain experiment onboard the Service module of ISS: Comparison with absorbed doses measured with TLDs

“Protective curtain” was the physical experiment onboard the International Space Station (ISS) aimed on radiation measurement of the dose – reducing effect of the additional shielding made of hygienic water-soaked wipes and towels placed on the wall in the crew cabin of the Service module Zvezda. The measurements were performed with 12 detector packages composed of thermoluminescent detectors (TLDs) and plastic nuclear track detectors (PNTDs) placed at the Protective curtain, so that they created pairs of shielded and unshielded detectors.     

Dosimetry during the first IBIS facility flight.

The dosimetry of cosmic rays was performed during the first experimental flight of the IBIS facility. Different thermoluminescent detectors (TLD) have been used to measure the contribution of the low linear energy transfer component (LET < 10 keV/micrometer) and plastic nuclear track detectors (PNTD) for the high linear energy tranfer (LET) component. Several parameters of tracks have been measured to determine the LET spectra of primary and secondary charged particles. The total absorbed dose rate (TLD+PNTD) during the flight was 0.23 mGy/day and the dose equivalent rate using the ICRP 60 was 0.52 mSv/day. The corresponding mean quality factor was 2.4. These results are in agreement with those obtained aboard the MIR station with a tissue equivalent proportional counter.     

Inactivation of individual Bacillus subtilis spores in dependence on their distance to single accelerated heavy ions.

In order to understand radiation mechanisms of heavy ions in detail, it is necessary to study effects of single ions on individual biological test objects. Spores of Bacillus subtilis have been used as a suitable small biological test system to measure the inactivation in dependence on the radial distance to the tracks of charged particles. Accelerator experiments have been performed using a modified Biostack technique--biological objects sandwiched between nuclear track detectors. Results of these experiments using ions differing in their energy and atomic number will be discussed under following aspects: (i) methodological differences between the experiments and their possible influences on the results, (ii) common features which are independent on the particle type and energy, (iii) theoretical expectations and problems to find solid theoretical concepts which explain the results.     

The high-LET radiation component measured during the EUROMIR-94 mission.

Stacks of CR-39 plastic nuclear track detectors were mounted inside the MIR-station during the EUROMIR-94-mission. We present LET-spectra determined separately for long range cosmic ray heavy ions and for short range target fragments produced in nuclear interactions of cosmic rays and measured charge distributions for relativistic and stopping particles.     

空间辐射剂量测量技术发展CSCD

简要介绍了用于空间辐射剂量测量的被动式和主动式仪器,并进行了对比。被动式仪器有荧光探测器、径迹蚀刻探测器、核乳胶探测器、金属箔探测器、气泡探测器和MOSFET剂量计;主动式仪器有硅半导体探测器(Liulin-4)、硅望远镜(DOSTEL、RRMD、Liulin-5、CPDS)、气体探测器(TEPC、R-16电离室)和中子谱仪(Bonner球中子谱仪、层叠闪烁谱仪)。利用多种测量方法互相补充和验证,为空间辐射剂量提供了更可靠的数据。     

Radiation measured during ISS-Expedition 13 with different dosimeters

Radiation in low Earth orbit (LEO) is mainly composed of galactic cosmic rays (GCR), solar energetic particles and particles in SAA (South Atlantic Anomaly). The biological impact of space radiation to astronauts depends strongly on the particles’ linear energy transfer (LET) and is dominated by high LET radiation. It is important to measure the LET spectrum for the space radiation field and to investigate the influence of radiation on astronauts. At present, the preferred active dosimeters sensitive to all LET are the tissue equivalent proportional counter (TEPC) and the silicon detectors in various configurations; the preferred passive dosimeters are CR-39 plastic nuclear track detectors (PNTDs) sensitive to high LET and thermoluminescence dosimeters (TLDs) as well as optically stimulated luminescence dosimeters (OSLDs) sensitive to low LET. The TEPC, CR-39 PNTDs, TLDs and OSLDs were used to investigate the radiation field for the ISS mission Expedition 13 (ISS-12S) in LEO. LET spectra and radiation quantities (fluence, absorbed dose, dose equivalent and quality factor) were measured for the space mission with different dosimeters. This paper introduces the role of high LET radiation in radiobiology, the operational principles for the different dosimeters, the LET spectrum method using CR-39 detectors, the method to combine the results measured with TLDs/OSLDs and CR-39 PNTDs, and presents the LET spectra and the radiation quantities measured and combined.     

A review of instruments and methods for dosimetry in space

Instruments and methods recently used for space radiation dosimetry are reviewed for the purposes of comparison and reference. Passive detection methods mentioned include track-etch, luminescent, nuclear emulsion, and metal foil detectors. These can provide a reliable source of data for all types of radiation, but often require processing that cannot occur in space. Experimental methods of LET determination using TLDs, such as the high temperature peak ratio (HTR) method, are also discussed. Portable readout passive detectors including Pille, MOSFET, and bubble detector systems provide a novel alternative to traditional passive detectors, but research is more limited and their widespread use has yet to be established. Active detectors including DOSTEL, CPDS, RRMD-III, TEPC, R-16, BBND, and the Liulin series are examined for technical details. These instruments allow the determination of dose in real-time, and some can determine LET of incident particles by measuring energy deposition over a known path-length, but size and power consumption limit their practical use for dosimetry. Improved neutron dosimetry and development of a small active or portable readout personnel dosimeter capable of accurate LET determination are important steps for managing the effects of long-term exposure to the space radiation environment.     

电化学过程中的局域核反应及动态Casimir效应

通过CR-39固体径迹探测器、钯阴极的辐射自照相等方法观察到了电解过程中的局域核反应.综合国内外相关研究数据,认为电解过程中,电极尖端处出现的动态Casimir效应,及涡漩运动与零点能相干效应而提取真空能,是电化学异常放热的来源,少量具有滞后和积累效应的、高度定向的极化核反应,可以用具有轴向高能宇宙射线的类星体涡旋模型加以解释.讨论了真空零点电磁涨落和挠场理论,及有关实验现象.利用推出的类星体涡旋模型理论,可以对自然界和实验室中出现的许多异常现象进行解释.      

城市道路交通流检测数据精度评价

目前各种检测方法采集到的路段速度数据普遍存在一定的误差,其准确性直接影响各种交通分析模型结果的精度.针对浮动车检测器、微波检测器以及线圈检测器的路段速度数据进行研究,利用GPS(Global Positioning System)设备实时记录试验车位置,分别在快速路和主干路进行了12次实验,对不同采集方式获取的速度信息进行了精度验证和评价.实验结果分析表明,浮动车数据获取的城市快速路和主干路的路段行程速度平均误差分别为13.6%和27.8%,且采集值与实际速度具有相同的分布.快速路微波检测器和主干路线圈检测器的速度数据与真实行程速度数据的误差分别为30%和56%.表明了微波检测器的断面速度值,用来表征所处路段的行程速度时虽然具有一定的误差,但是基本能表征路段的行驶状况.该研究结论为不同精度需求的交通模型选择合适的数据源提供支持,并为利用多源数据的冗余信息提高数据精度和完备性提供了理论依据.      

Summary of current radiation dosimetry results on manned spacecraft.

Measurements of radiation exposures aboard manned space flights of various altitudes, orbital inclinations and durations were performed by means of passive radiation detectors, thermoluminescent detectors (TLD's), and in some cases by active electronic counters. The TLD's and electronic counters covered the lower portion of the LET (linear energy transfer) spectra, while the nuclear track detectors measured high-LET produced by HZE particles. In Spacelab (SL-1), TLD's recorded a range of 102 to 190-millirad, yielding an average low-LET dose rate of 11.2 mrad per day inside the module, about twice the dose rate measured on previous space shuttle flights. Because of a higher inclination of the SL-1 orbit (57 degrees versus 28.5 degrees for previous shuttle flights), substantial fluxes of highly ionizing HZE particles were also observed, yielding an overall average mission dose-equivalent of about 135 millirem, about three times higher than measured an previous shuttle missions. A dose rate more than an order of magnitude higher than for any other space shuttle light was obtained for mission STS-41C, reflecting the highest orbital altitude to date of 519 km.     

Advanced biostack: experiment 1 ES 027 on Spacelab-1.

The radiobiological properties of the heavy ions of cosmic radiation were investigated on Spacelab 1 by use of biostacks, monolayers of biological test organisms sandwiched between thin foils of different types of nuclear track detectors. Biostacks were exposed to cosmic radiation at several locations with different shielding environments in the module and on the pallet. Evaluations of the physical and biological components of the experiment to date indicate that in general they survived the spaceflight in good condition. Dosimetric data are presented for the different shielding environments.     

Radiation effects in nematodes: results from IML-1 experiments.

The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans was exposed to natural space radiation using the ESA Biorack facility aboard Spacelab on International Microgravity Laboratory 1, STS-42. For the major experimental objective dormant animals were suspended in buffer or on agar or immobilized next to CR-39 plastic nuclear track detectors to correlate fluence of HZE particles with genetic events. This configuration was used to isolate mutations in a set of 350 essential genes as well as in the unc-22 structural gene. From flight samples 13 mutants in the unc-22 gene were isolated along with 53 lethal mutations from autosomal regions balanced by a translocation eT1(III;V). Preliminary analysis suggests that mutants from worms correlated with specific cosmic ray tracks may have a higher proportion of rearrangements than those isolated from tube cultures on a randomly sampled basis. Right sample mutation rate was approximately 8-fold higher than ground controls which exhibited laboratory spontaneous frequencies.     

Study of the radiation environment on MIR space station with SILEYE-2 experiment.

In this work we present preliminary results of nuclear composition measurements on board space station MIR obtained with SILEYE-2 particle telescope. SILEYE-2 was placed on MIR in 1997 and has been working since then. It consists of an array of 6 active silicon strip detectors which allow nuclear and energetic identification of cosmic rays in the energy range between approximately 30 and 200 MeV/n. The device is attached to an helmet and connected to an eye mask which shields the cosmonaut eyes from light and allow studies of the Light Flashes (LF) phenomenon. In addition to the study of the causes of LF, the device is used to perform real time long term radiation environment monitoring inside the MIR, performing measurements in solar quiet and active days.     

Mortality and morphological anomalies related to the passage of cosmic heavy ions through the smallest flowering aquatic plant Wolffia arrhiza

Radiobiological effects of single cosmic heavy ions on individual, actively metabolizing test organisms, plants of Wolffia arrhiza, have been explored in an experiment flown aboard the Russian Biosatellite 10. Mortality induced during space flight, population dynamics during subsequent cultivation, and morphological anomalies occurring in the plants of these cultures were investigated. Correlation of these effects with the passage of a heavy ion was achieved by inserting monolayers of plants in a stack of surrounding plastic nuclear track detectors (BIO-STACK). Enhanced initial mortality and delayed decline of induced anomalies have been significantly associated with the passage of single heavy ions, in particular if ions penetrated the budding region of the plants. The prolonged persistence of anomalies in filial generations as an indication of delayed genetic damage has been detected for the first time as the consequence of the hit by a single heavy ion. Regarding radiation protection of space crew during prolonged missions, especially outside the magnetosphere, this appears to be a significant finding.