A HIGH ENERGY PROTON SPECTROMETER UTILIZING SEMICONDUCTOR DETECTORS FOR SPACE PHYSICS EXPERIMENTATION.
Abstract
High energy protons are found in primary cosmic radiation, in the Van Allen Belt and in solar flares. A study of the best methods of observing these phenomena using semiconductor nuclear particle detector technique developed in part in the previously reported phases of this program resulted in three basic designs for proton spectrometers for for space radiation measurements. These are comprised of (1) the single detector with pulse height analysis, (2) a wide angle proton spectrometer, and (3) a high angular resolution proton spectrometer. Of these three designs, the third was selected as being capable of providing the best quality of information within the existing state of the art. A design for a ten channel spectrometer covering the energy range from 24 to 210 Mev in approximately equal logarithmic steps was completed, and on the basis of this design, fabrication was undertaken on an actual prototype spectrometer. Two flight spectrometers were fabricated and environmentally tested. Limited nuclear testing with protons up to 40 Mev verified the energy calibration of the first two channels and verified the calculated angle of acceptance. While size and weight considerably exceeded original estimates, a high degree of reliability and reproducibility was achieved. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 01, 1964
- Accession Number
- AD0600156
Entities
People
- Frank P. Ziemba
- Henry S. Katzenstein