Galactic cosmic ray transport methods and radiation quality issues.
An overview of galactic cosmic ray (GCR) interaction and transport methods, as implemented in the Langley Research Center GCR transport code, is presented.  Representative results for solar minimum, exo-magnetospheric GCR dose equivalents in water are presented on a component by component basis for various thicknesses of aluminum shielding.  The impact of proposed changes to the currently used quality factors on exposure estimates and shielding requirements are quantified.  Using the cellular track model of Katz, estimates of relative biological effectiveness (RBE) for the mixed GCR radiation fields are also made.
Townsend
L W
LW
NASA Langley Research Center, Hampton, VA 23665-5225.
Wilson
J W
JW
Cucinotta
F A
FA
Shinn
J L
JL
D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured / Q000528:radiation effects*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D003359:Cosmic Radiation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004601:Elementary Particles / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000145:classification*; D018499:Linear Energy Transfer; D011834:Radiation Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D011835:Radiation Protection / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012062:Relative Biological Effectiveness; D012306:Risk