Application of the heliocentric potential to aircraft dosimetry.
The heliocentric potential is the result of a steady-state solution to the diffusion equation of cosmic rays through the solar wind. The counting rate of any high-latitude, ground-level neutron monitor can be used to determine this potential, which will return cosmic ray spectra in real time. These spectra are routinely used to determine the radiation dose rate to which air crew are exposed during the precise hours of a flight, including the effects of quick decreases and Forbush decreases. Further, it has been used in an effort to calculate the radiation dose rate to air crew during an energetic solar particle event, as the cosmic ray background before the event must be determined. An alternate approach is to use the deceleration potential, which assumes a significant time-dependence of cosmic rays through the heliosphere. However, the theory behind it does not account for the behaviour of ground-level neutron monitors.
O'Brien
Keran
K
Department of Physics and Astronomy, Northern Arizona University, P.O. Box 6010, Flagstaff, AZ 86011-6010, USA. keran.obrien@nau.edu
Felsberger
Ernst
E
Kindl
Peter
P
D000337:Aerospace Medicine / Q000379:methods; D000401:Aircraft; D001822:Body Burden; D003198:Computer Simulation; D003359:Cosmic Radiation; D006801:Humans; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000032:analysis*; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011835:Radiation Protection / Q000379:methods*; D011874:Radiometry / Q000379:methods*; D012062:Relative Biological Effectiveness; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D012307:Risk Factors