Investigation of Radiation Fields at Aircraft Altitudes

O’Sullivan, D.; Bartlett, D. T.; Grillmaier, R.; Heinrich, W.; Lindborg, L.; Schraube, H.; Silari, M.; Tommasino, L.; Zhou, D.

doi:10.1093/oxfordjournals.rpd.a033268

Cited by 9 publications

(5 citation statements)

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“…All these dosimetric systems have provided consistent results when exposed together at CERF (62) . An example of the agreement obtained between the range of instruments employed is shown in Table 5 (15) . (12) .…”

Section: On-flight Measurements Based On Cerf Calibrationmentioning

confidence: 95%

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The CERN-EU High-energy Reference Field (CERF) Facility for Dosimetry at Commercial Flight Altitudes and in Space

Mitaroff

Silari²

2002

Radiation Protection Dosimetry

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216

130

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A reference facility for the calibration and inter-comparison of active and passive detectors in broad neutron fields has been available at CERN since 1992. A positively charged hadron beam (a mixture of protons and pions) with momentum of usually 120 GeV/c hits a copper target, 50 cm thick and 7 cm in diameter. The secondary particles produced in the interaction traverse a shield, at 90° with respect to the direction of the incoming beam, made of either 80 to 160 cm of concrete or 40 cm of iron. Behind the iron shield, the resulting neutron spectrum has a maximum at about 1 MeV, with an additional high-energy component. Behind the 80 cm concrete shield, the neutron spectrum has a second pronounced maximum at about 70 MeV and resembles the high-energy component of the radiation field created by cosmic rays at commercial flight altitudes. This paper describes the facility, reports on the latest neutron spectral measurements, gives an overview of the most important experiments performed by the various collaborating institutions over the past years, addresses the possible application of the facility to measurements related to the space programme and discusses the latest calculations performed in view of its development for such use.

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Section: On-flight Measurements Based On Cerf Calibrationmentioning

confidence: 95%

“…The EU funded programmes placed significant emphasis on calibration and characterisation of detectors. An important element in these programmes is the simulation of the cosmic ray field at aircraft altitudes at an experimental facility available at CERN, which provides a reference base for both passive and active instruments (15) .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The CERN-EU High-energy Reference Field (CERF) Facility for Dosimetry at Commercial Flight Altitudes and in Space

Mitaroff

Silari²

2002

Radiation Protection Dosimetry

Self Cite

216

130

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…Thus, to better understand these consequences, the European Commission initiated and supported research projects on cosmic radiation in the 1990s, which included numerous onboard measurements [ O'Sullivan et al , ; Beck et al , ; O'Sullivan et al , ; European Commission Radiation Protection 140 , ; Lillhök , ]. Based on that experience, international institutes developed calculation codes for the assessment of galactic cosmic radiation exposure on board aircraft.…”

Section: Radiation Exposure Consequencesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Advances in Atmospheric Radiation Measurements and Modeling Needed to Improve Air Safety

Tobiska¹,

Atwell²,

Beck³

et al. 2015

Space Weather

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Air safety is tied to the phenomenon of ionizing radiation from space weather, primarily from galactic cosmic rays but also from solar energetic particles. A global framework for addressing radiation issues in this environment has been constructed, but more must be done at international and national levels. Health consequences from atmospheric radiation exposure are likely to exist. In addition, severe solar radiation events may cause economic consequences in the international aviation community due to exposure limits being reached by some crew members. Impacts from a radiation environment upon avionics from high-energy particles and low-energy, thermalized neutrons are now recognized as an area of active interest. A broad community recognizes that there are a number of mitigation paths that can be taken relative to the human tissue and avionics exposure risks. These include developing active monitoring and measurement programs as well as improving scientific modeling capabilities that can eventually be turned into operations. A number of roadblocks to risk mitigation still exist, such as effective pilot training programs as well as monitoring, measuring, and regulatory measures. An active international effort toward observing the weather of atmospheric radiation must occur to make progress in mitigating radiation exposure risks. Stakeholders in this process include standard-making bodies, scientific organizations, regulatory organizations, air traffic management systems, aircraft owners and operators, pilots and crew, and even the public. Aviation Radiation Is an Unavoidable Space Weather PhenomenonAir safety has improved significantly in many meteorological areas over the past decades with the exception of space weather, which includes ionizing radiation. While a framework for addressing radiation issues has been constructed, we believe that more can and must be done at international and national levels. In particular, measurement programs must be expanded and linked with models to provide current epoch and, eventually, forecast information for the aviation ionizing radiation environment. A diverse radiation measurement and modeling community exists with a strong interest in improving international air safety.There are two challenges in our ever more mobile, technologically dependent global society. First, pilots, crew, and passengers, which include fetuses between their first and second trimesters, might face additional radiation hazards in terms of dose equivalent rate (rate of absorbed dose multiplied by the quality factor), particularly when flying at commercial aviation altitudes above 26,000 ft. (7924.8 m) (8 km) (see Figure 1). Second, avionics can experience single event effects (SEEs) from both the ambient high-energy and thermal neutron environments. The source of this radiation in either case is twofold-from the continuous bombardment by primary background galactic cosmic rays (GCRs) and also from solar energetic particles (SEPs) emitted during occasional solar flare events lasting up to a ...

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“…Many neutron measurements in aircraft have been performed in Europe and North America for verification. [2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11] However, only one neutron spectrum measurement on board was performed in the low cutoff rigidity region over Japan on Feb. 27,1985, by Nakamura et al 12) A multimoderator spectrometer, the so-called Bonner ball detector, is the standard neutron spectrometer used for radiological protection and environmental measurements, where the neutron energy range is below 15 MeV. In most aircraft measurements of the cosmic neutron energy spectrum, [2][3][4]6) a specially constructed Bonner ball spectrometer, to which a metal shell converter was added, was used to extend the energy range over 1 GeV.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Measurements of Cosmic-Ray Neutron Energy Spectra from Thermal to 15 MeV with Bonner Ball Neutron Detector in Aircraft

Yajima¹,

Yasuda²,

Takada³

et al. 2010

Journal of Nuclear Science and Technology

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Cosmic-ray neutron energy spectra from thermal to 15 MeV were measured with a multimoderator spectrometer known as the Bonner Ball Neutron Detector (BBND) at aviation altitude (9-11 km). Four flights were carried out around Nagoya Airport in Japan. The measured data were unfolded using the maximum entropy deconvolution code MAXED, and the derived spectra agreed with the calculated results using the PHITS-based analytical radiation model in the atmosphere (PARMA). The results of the in-flight measurement verified the accuracy of model calculation in regard to the neutrons within a certain energy range.

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Investigation of Radiation Fields at Aircraft Altitudes

Cited by 9 publications

References 0 publications

The CERN-EU High-energy Reference Field (CERF) Facility for Dosimetry at Commercial Flight Altitudes and in Space

The CERN-EU High-energy Reference Field (CERF) Facility for Dosimetry at Commercial Flight Altitudes and in Space

Advances in Atmospheric Radiation Measurements and Modeling Needed to Improve Air Safety

Measurements of Cosmic-Ray Neutron Energy Spectra from Thermal to 15 MeV with Bonner Ball Neutron Detector in Aircraft

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