Correlation of inflight neutron dosimeter and SEU measurements with atmospheric neutron model

Author

Normand, Eugene

Author_Institution

Boeing Co., Seattle, WA, USA

Volume

48

Issue

6

fYear

2001

fDate

12/1/2001 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

1996

Lastpage

2003

Abstract

Inflight measurements during high-altitude flight (NVB-57 and ER-2) of a simple neutron dosimeter, the PDM-303, correlate well with the NASA-Langley atmospheric neutron model. Based on simultaneous measurements with the much more accurate tissue equivalent proportional counter, the PDM-303 response has been calibrated in absolute terms for high-altitude flight. Thus the PDM-303 output is correlated with the fluence of atmospheric neutrons during flight from the NASA model. In addition, a compilation of single-event upsets in the autopilot of a commercial airliner are used to calculate the altitude variation of the atmospheric neutron flux, which agrees with the altitude variation predicted by the NASA atmospheric neutron model

Keywords

aerospace biophysics; avionics; cosmic ray neutrons; dosimetry; neutron flux; neutron transport theory; radiation monitoring; Inflight neutron dosimeter measurements; SEU measurements; altitude variation; atmospheric neutron flux; atmospheric neutron model; avionics single-event upset; commercial airliner autopilot; cosmic ray secondary neutrons; high-altitude flight; neutron dose equivalent; simultaneous measurements; tissue equivalent proportional counter; Aerospace electronics; Aircraft; Atmospheric measurements; Atmospheric modeling; Dosimetry; Laboratories; NASA; Neutrons; Single event upset; Velocity measurement;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Nuclear Science, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0018-9499

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/23.983162

Filename

983162