MODELS OF THE TRAPPED RADIATION ENVIRONMENT. VOLUME IV. LOW ENERGY PROTONS
Abstract
A program sponsored jointly by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the United States Air Force has been in progress under the direction of Dr. Vette for the purpose of defining a model radiation environment of the Earth. In Volumes I and II of NASA SP-3024, the environment was given for the lower altitude region where trapping is relatively stable and changes in radiation flux occur only slowly and are generally small. In Volume III, the electron environment was described which is found at 19,300 n. miles, the altitude of the Earth synchronous orbit. The present report contains a model of the low energy proton flux for energies below 4 MeV. Since low energy protons are stopped very easily, their contribution to radiation damage can be neglected in most cases. Over a large region of space, however, their flux is intense, thus they may be the prime cause of deterioration of sensitive surfaces. These effects may be particularly important to temperature control surfaces, optical windows, or the first element in a counter telescope for studying nuclear radiation.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1967
- Accession Number
- AD0659367
Entities
People
- Joseph H. King
Organizations
- The Aerospace Corporation