Design, fabrication, calibration, testing and satellite integration of a space radiation dosimeter
Abstract
A space-radiation dosimeter has been designed, fabricated, calibrated, tested, and integrated into a DMSP satellite payload. The dosimeter is primarily designed to measure the dose from electrons of greater than 1 MeV to greater than 10 MeV in four channels. Each channel has a different thickness aluminum dome shield over a silicon solid state detector. The solid state detector outputs are processed to provide the dose from electrons (low energy loss), the dose from protons (high energy loss), the flux of electrons, the flux of protons, and the rate of high energy loss nuclear star events. The dosimeter was extensively calibrated with nuclear radiation sources, electron beams, and proton beams. The dosimeter also has a calibration mode in which the alpha particles from a weak source behind each detector are used to check for total detector depletion and proper operation of the electronics.
- Publication:
-
Final Report
- Pub Date:
- December 1981
- Bibcode:
- 1981pana.rept.....S
- Keywords:
-
- Dosimeters;
- Extraterrestrial Radiation;
- Radiation Dosage;
- Radiation Shielding;
- Solid State Devices;
- Aluminum Coatings;
- Electron Flux Density;
- Meteorological Satellites;
- Proton Flux Density;
- Thickness Ratio;
- Spacecraft Instrumentation