Solid State Microdosimetry With Heavy Ions for Space Applications

Abstract

Abstract-This work provides information pertaining to the performance of Silicon-On-Insulator (SOI) microdosimeters in heavy ion radiation fields. SOI microdosimeters have been previously tested in light ion radiation fields for both space and therapeutic applications, however their response has not been established in high energy, heavy ion radiation fields which are experienced in space. Irradiations were completed at the NASA Space Radiation Laboratory at BNL using 0.6 GeV/u Fe and 1.0 GeV/u Ti ions. Energy deposition and lineal energy spectra were obtained with this device at various depths within a Lucite phantom along the central axis of the beam. The response of which was compared with existing proportional counter data to assess the applicability of SOI microdosimeters to future deployments in space missions.

Tissue Equivalence Correction in Silicon Microdosimetry for Protons Characteristic of the LEO Space Environment

“…As demonstrated by A. Wroe and co-authors, microdosimetric measurements should be performed at different depths in a phantom to evaluate the harmful biological effects of space radiation in the different tissue components of the human body [3]. The adoption of a phantom embedding the microdosimeter device was also adopted in previous work to study the SOI device performance in the presence of heavy ion radiation field for space applications in [6].…”

“…Applications of the technology include radiation protection for personnel in space and at nuclear facilities [3], radiation effects on microelectronics in space missions and aviation, dosimetry in medical physics [4,5] and radiobiological research [6].…”

Large Area Silicon Microdosimeter for Dosimetry in High LET Space Radiation Fields: Charge Collection Study

“…The diodes are rectangular parellelepiped (RPP) structures all in close proximity and connected in parallel for single read out as described in [5], [7]. These devices have been characterised in terms of charge collection [6] and tested for their performance in neutron fields [8], proton fields [9], [10], heavy ion fields for space applications [11] and radiation protection in mixed radiation fields [12].…”

A Cylindrical Silicon-on-Insulator Microdosimeter: Charge Collection Characteristics

“…This approach has been applied to: fast neutron and charged particle radiation therapy [2]- [7], predicting single event upsets (SEUs) in micro and nano electronics [8], and assessing the biological risk posed to radiation workers, high altitude and space aviation crew [9], [10]. The microdosimetry approach has the advantage that no prior knowledge of the particles contained within the field is required.…”