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。     

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。     

FY-3A卫星星内辐射剂量评估与分析

对FY-3A卫星近四年的辐射剂量数据进行分析,结果表明,在1 mm铝的等效屏蔽厚度下,星内辐射剂量存在显著的方向性差异,+Y向剂量增长变化显著大于+Z向.深入分析剂量变化与带电粒子辐射关系后发现,太阳质子事件期间的高能质子增长不会对辐射剂量增长变化产生显著影响;而高能电子是剂量增长变化的主要贡献者,其中扰动导致的高能电子通量强增长是使得辐射剂量显著增加的主要原因,并显著影响到卫星+Y向.进一步与工程常用SPENVIS剂量计算结果的对比表明,实测能更好地反映剂量动态变化和方向差异.综上,实测剂量数据对于同类工程星内器件的合理布局和工程防护设计具有一定指导和参考价值.     

大气中子实时计算模式

为实时评估0~100km高度范围内的大气中子全球分布,对宇宙线在地磁场和大气中的传输过程进行了分析.利用蒙特卡罗方法工具包Geant4,预先计算不同能量的粒子在大气层中产生的次级粒子能谱分布,形成大气次级粒子数据库,并与相关模型进行对比,验证了该数据库的有效性和可靠性.以实测或预报的空间环境参数作为输入,计算同步轨道银河宇宙线和太阳质子事件能谱以及100km高度上的地磁垂直截止刚度,最终得到大气层顶上的粒子能谱.通过对大气次级粒子数据库的线性插值,实现1h分辨率的大气中子能谱和辐射剂量全球分布的实时计算.      

卫星搭载样品宇宙辐射剂量测量

本工作利用LiF(Mg, Cu, P), 荧光玻璃剂量计和CR-39塑料核径迹探测器对卫星舱内6个搭载实验样品所接受的宇宙辐射剂量进行测量.剂量计均经过严格筛选和标定.通过理论计算, 把以mR单位标定数据变换为肌肉组织的吸收剂量, LiF和荧光玻璃的变换系数分别为0.995和0.93.测量的卫星舱内平均累积剂量为0.88mGy, 平均日剂量为0.11mGy.CR-39记录到许多带电粒子径迹.文中对本次测量结果同以前的测量进行了对比分析讨论.      

低地球轨道带电粒子辐射环境对航天器的影响

简述了低地球轨道（ＬＥＯ）空间环境中对航天器正常工作有重要影响的环境因素之一──带电粒子辐射环境;并着重介绍了该环境因素作用在航天器上可能产生的不利影响。     

月球粒子辐射环境探测现状

月球表面没有磁场的保护,粒子辐射是人类在月球活动的重要风险要素。概述了月球的辐射环境以及辐射来源,并介绍了月球探测的现状,特别提及了近年来几个较为典型的月球辐射探测实例及其探测结果;介绍了我国“嫦娥4号”上搭载的月表中子与辐射剂量探测仪（Lunar Lander Neutron&Dosimetry,LND）的科学目标及其技术指标。LND的科学目标主要包括：载人登月辐射剂量的测量、月球南极艾特肯盆地水含量的测量、艾特肯盆地FeO含量的测量,以及为日球层科学的研究提供依据。     

基于CLYC闪烁体的中子能谱测量及反演方法

空间中子是影响航天器和航天员安全的重要辐射要素之一。优化中子探测器,提高测量效率,提升反演精度是中子测量的难点。中国空间站将搭载一种基于新型中子探测材料Cs2LiYCl6:Ce（CLYC）闪烁体的中子探测器,该探测器具有同时测量热中子和快中子,以及探测效率高等特点。针对该新型探测器的中子能谱反演,分析了不同能量中子在该探测器中的响应特点,分析了中子反演常用的概率迭代法和非负最小二乘（NNLS）法的优缺点,考虑到这2种方法在CLYC探测器反演应用中的不足,提出了基于增广矩阵的非负最小二乘（AM-NNLS）法。数值实验结果表明:AM-NNLS法具有反演运算效率高和反演相对误差小的特点,验证了所提方法的有效性。      

由地面宇宙线中子强度反演空间质子和重离子的分布

采用线性回归的方法研究了太阳活动平静时期空间高能质子和重离子微分通量与地面OULU宇宙线台站中子强度之间的相关性,利用地面中子强度数据来反演空间高能质子和重离子通量.从质子和重离子的能谱出发,结合OULU台站中子强度的数据,提出了由地面中子强度数据反演空间高能质子和重离子微分通量的新方法.文中以GOES卫星上350～420 MeV,420～510 MeV,510～700 MeV,＞700 MeV(P8～P11)四能道的高能质子和ACE卫星上的元素C为例,并将反演的数据与测量结果比较,二者符合较好.为了探索这种反演方法在空间辐射环境描述中的应用,同时利用2006年11月和12月质子通量的反演结果对反演方法进行了验证,证明利用这一反演方法可以从地面中子强度的数据很好地反演出空间质子和重离子的微分通量.      

空间微波辐射基准传递溯源展望

面向全球气候变化研究和高精度气象预报对空间微波辐射测量基准的迫切需求,由于传递链路复杂导致国际微波辐射基准尚未建立,为进一步提升遥感卫星观测精度和稳定性,建立空间辐射基准溯源评价体系,前瞻性地提出高精度可溯源的空间微波辐射基准传递顶层方案和技术解决方案,明确需要突破的微波辐射基准载荷关键技术,空间微波辐射基准传递与溯源理论、方法和模型,全链路微波辐射基准溯源传递一体化验证技术,微波系统全链路物理级基准传递和误差仿真评估技术等,为空间微波辐射测量提供统一参考基准,实现高精度、高稳定、可溯源的空间微波探测能力,提升中国空间微波辐射测量的核心竞争力。     

Recent results form measurements of the energy spectrum of cosmic-ray induced neutrons aboard an ER-2 airplane and on the ground.

Crews of future high-altitude commercial aircraft may be significantly exposed to atmospheric cosmic radiation from galactic cosmic rays (GCR). To help determine such exposures, the Atmospheric Ionizing Radiation Project, an international collaboration of 15 laboratories, made simultaneous radiation measurements with 14 instruments on a NASA ER-2 high-altitude aircraft. The primary instrument was a sensitive extended-energy multisphere neutron spectrometer, which was also used to make measurements on the ground. Its detector responses were calculated for neutrons and charged hadrons at energies up to 100 GeV using the radiation transport code MCNPX. We have now recalculated the detector responses including the effects of the airplane structure. We are also using new FLUKA calculations of GCR-induced hadron spectra in the atmosphere to correct for spectrometer counts produced by charged hadrons. Neutron spectra are unfolded from the corrected measured count rates using the MAXED code. Results for the measured cosmic-ray neutron spectrum (thermal to >10 GeV), total neutron fluence rate, and neutron dose equivalent and effective dose rates, and their dependence on altitude and geomagnetic cutoff generally agree well with results from recent calculations of GCR-induced neutron spectra.     

Tissue responses to low protracted doses of high LET radiations or photons: early and late damage relevant to radio-protective countermeasures.

Early and late murine tissue responses to single or fractionated low doses of heavy charged particles, fission-spectrum neutrons or gamma rays are considered. Damage to the hematopoietic system is emphasized, but results on acute lethality, host response to challenge with transplanted leukemia cells and life-shortening are presented. Low dose rates per fraction were used in some neutron experiments. Split-dose lethality studies (LD 50/30) with fission neutrons indicated greater accumulation of injury during a 9 fraction course (over 17 days) than was the case for gamma-radiation. When total doses of 96 or 247 cGy of neutrons or gamma rays were given as a single dose or in 9 fractions, a significant sparing effect on femur CFU-S depression was observed for both radiation qualities during the first 11 days, but there was not an earlier return to normal with dose fractionation. During the 9 fraction sequence, a significant sparing effect of low dose rate on CFU-S depression was observed in both neutron and gamma-irradiated mice. CFU-S content at the end of the fractionation sequence did not correlate with measured LD 50/30. Sustained depression of femur and spleen CFU-S and a significant thrombocytopenia were observed when a total neutron dose of 240 cGy was given in 72 fractions over 24 weeks at low dose rates. The temporal aspects of CFU-S repopulation were different after a single versus fractionated neutron doses. The sustained reduction in the size of the CFU-S population was accompanied by an increase in the fraction in DNA synthesis. The proliferation characteristics and effects of age were different for radial CFU-S population closely associated with bone, compared with the axial population that can be readily aspirated from the femur. In aged irradiated animals, the CFU-S proliferation/redistribution response to typhoid vaccine showed both an age and radiation effect. After high single doses of neutrons or gamma rays, a significant age- and radiation-related deficiency in host defense mechanisms was detected by a shorter mean survival time following challenge with transplantable leukemia cells. Comparison of dose-response curves for life shortening after irradiation with fission-spectrum neutrons or high energy silicon particles indicated high initial slopes for both radiation qualities at low doses, but for higher doses of silicon, the effect per Gy decreased to a value similar to that for gamma rays. The two component life-shortening curve for silicon particles has implications for the potential efficacy of radioprotectants. Recent studies on protection against early and late effects by aminothiols, prostaglandins, and other compounds are discussed.     

Method for the prediction of the effective dose equivalent to the crew of the International Space Station

This paper describes a methodology for assessing the pre-mission exposure of space crew aboard the International Space Station (ISS) in terms of an effective dose equivalent. In this approach, the PHITS Monte Carlo code was used to assess the particle transport of galactic cosmic radiation (GCR) and trapped radiation for solar maximum and minimum conditions through an aluminum shield thickness. From these predicted spectra, and using fluence-to-dose conversion factors, a scaling ratio of the effective dose equivalent rate to the ICRU ambient dose equivalent rate at a 10 mm depth was determined. Only contributions from secondary neutrons, protons, and alpha particles were considered in this analysis.     

Heavy ion contributions to organ dose equivalent for the 1977 galactic cosmic ray spectrum

Estimates of organ dose equivalents for the skin, eye lens, blood forming organs, central nervous system, and heart of female astronauts from exposures to the 1977 solar minimum galactic cosmic radiation spectrum for various shielding geometries involving simple spheres and locations within the Space Transportation System (space shuttle) and the International Space Station (ISS) are made using the HZETRN 2010 space radiation transport code. The dose equivalent contributions are broken down by charge groups in order to better understand the sources of the exposures to these organs. For thin shields, contributions from ions heavier than alpha particles comprise at least half of the organ dose equivalent. For thick shields, such as the ISS locations, heavy ions contribute less than 30% and in some cases less than 10% of the organ dose equivalent. Secondary neutron production contributions in thick shields also tend to be as large, or larger, than the heavy ion contributions to the organ dose equivalents.     

Heavy ion observations by MARIE in cruise phase and Mars orbit

The charged particle spectrum for nuclei from protons to neon, (charge Z=10) was observed during the cruise phase and orbit around Mars by the MARIE charged particle spectrometer on the Odyssey spacecraft. The cruise data were taken between April 23, 2001 and mid-August 2001. The Mars orbit data were taken March 5, 2002 through May 2002 and are scheduled to continue until August 2004. Charge peaks are clearly separated for charges up to Z=10. Especially prominent are the carbon and oxygen peaks, with boron and nitrogen also clearly visible. Although heavy ions are much less abundant than protons in the cosmic ray environment, it is important to determine their abundances because their ionization energy losses (proportional to Z²) are far more dangerous to humans and to instruments. Thus the higher charged nuclei make a significant contribution to dose and dose equivalent received in space. Results of the charged particle spectrum measurements will be reported.     

Some radiation environment estimation data from 10–12 km altitude aircraft

The results of probing the radiation environment on board different civil aviation planes with singletype detectors (nuclear emulsions), with particular emphasis to the cosmic radiation flux measured inside aircraft, are presented. The measurement results make it possible to find the absorbed and equivalent doses induced by the cosmic radiation neutrons and charged particles.     

Cancer risk above 1 Gy and the impact for space radiation protection

Analyses of the epidemiological data on the Japanese A-bomb survivors, who were exposed to γ-rays and neutrons, provide most current information on the dose–response of radiation-induced cancer. Since the dose span of main interest is usually between 0 and 1 Gy, for radiation protection purposes, the analysis of the A-bomb survivors is often focused on this range. However, estimates of cancer risk for doses larger than 1 Gy are becoming more important for long-term manned space missions. Therefore in this work, emphasis is placed on doses larger than 1 Gy with respect to radiation-induced solid cancer and leukemia mortality. The present analysis of the A-bomb survivors data was extended by including two extra high-dose categories and applying organ-averaged dose instead of the colon-weighted dose. In addition, since there are some recent indications for a high neutron dose contribution, the data were fitted separately for three different values for the relative biological effectiveness (RBE) of the neutrons (10, 35 and 100) and a variable RBE as a function of dose. The data were fitted using a linear and a linear-exponential dose–response relationship using a dose and dose-rate effectiveness factor (DDREF) of both one and two. The work presented here implies that the use of organ-averaged dose, a dose-dependent neutron RBE and the bending-over of the dose–response relationship for radiation-induced cancer could result in a reduction of radiation risk by around 50% above 1 Gy. This could impact radiation risk estimates for space crews on long-term mission above 500 days who might be exposed to doses above 1 Gy. The consequence of using a DDREF of one instead of two increases cancer risk by about 40% and would therefore balance the risk decrease described above.     

Chromosome aberrations in human lymphocytes induced by 250 MeV protons: effects of dose, dose rate and shielding.

Although the space radiation environment consists predominantly of energetic protons, astronauts inside a spacecraft are chronically exposed to both primary particles as well as secondary particles that are generated when the primary particles penetrate the spacecraft shielding. Secondary neutrons and secondary charged particles can have an LET value that is greater than the primary protons and, therefore, produce a higher relative biological effectiveness (RBE). Using the accelerator facility at Loma Linda University, we exposed human lymphocytes in vitro to 250 MeV protons with doses ranging from 0 to 60 cGy at three different dose rates: a low dose rate of 7.5 cGy/h, an intermediate dose rate of 30 cGy/h and a high dose rate of 70 cGy/min. The effect of 15 g/cm2 aluminum shielding on the induction of chromosome aberrations was investigated for each dose rate. After exposure, lymphocytes were incubated in growth medium containing phytohemagglutinin (PHA) and chromosome spreads were collected using a chemical-induced premature chromosome condensation (PCC) technique. Aberrations were analyzed using the fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) technique with three different colored chromosome-painting probes. The frequency of reciprocal and complex-type chromosome exchanges were compared in shielded and unshielded samples.     

Neutron spectra at flight altitudes and their radiological estimation

Since the publication of the ICRP-report 60, air crews and other frequently flying persons are considered as occupationally exposed people. At civil flight levels neutrons contribute the major part to the radiologically relevant dose to men. The quantification of the neutron dose, and herewith the radiation risk due to neutrons, suffers from spectral data available especially in the energy range above 20 MeV. Experimental data were recently obtained at a low flight level on top of the mountain Zugspitze at 3000 m using a modified Bonner sphere spectrometer. The resulting spectra are compared with Monte-Carlo transport calculations from top of the atmosphere down to 700 g/cm². These data and others from the literature are used to calculate operational and risk related quantities, i.e. ambient dose equivalent and effective dose.