title: Monte Carlo simulations for the space radiation superconducting shield project (SR2S).
abstract: Astronauts on deep-space long-duration missions will be exposed for long time to galactic cosmic rays (GCR) and Solar Particle Events (SPE). The exposure to space radiation could lead to both acute and late effects in the crew members and well defined countermeasures do not exist nowadays. The simplest solution given by optimized passive shielding is not able to reduce the dose deposited by GCRs below the actual dose limits, therefore other solutions, such as active shielding employing superconducting magnetic fields, are under study. In the framework of the EU FP7 SR2S Project - Space Radiation Superconducting Shield--a toroidal magnetic system based on MgB2 superconductors has been analyzed through detailed Monte Carlo simulations using Geant4 interface GRAS. Spacecraft and magnets were modeled together with a simplified mechanical structure supporting the coils. Radiation transport through magnetic fields and materials was simulated for a deep-space mission scenario, considering for the first time the effect of secondary particles produced in the passage of space radiation through the active shielding and spacecraft structures. When modeling the structures supporting the active shielding systems and the habitat, the radiation protection efficiency of the magnetic field is severely decreasing compared to the one reported in previous studies, when only the magnetic field was modeled around the crew. This is due to the large production of secondary radiation taking place in the material surrounding the habitat.
authors.affiliation: Thales Alenia Space Italia, Strada Antica di Collegno, 10146 Torino, Italy; Politecnico di Torino, Corso Duca degli Abruzzi 24, 10129 Torino, Italy. Electronic address: marco.vuolo@external.thalesaleniaspace.com.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vuolo
authors.affiliation: Thales Alenia Space Italia, Strada Antica di Collegno, 10146 Torino, Italy; Politecnico di Torino, Corso Duca degli Abruzzi 24, 10129 Torino, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Giraudo
authors.affiliation: INFN-Genova, Via Dodecaneso 33, 16146 Genova, Italy.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Musenich
authors.affiliation: INFN-Genova, Via Dodecaneso 33, 16146 Genova, Italy.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Calvelli
authors.affiliation: INFN-Perugia, Via Pascoli, 06123 Perugia, Italy.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ambroglini
authors.affiliation: INFN-Perugia, Via Pascoli, 06123 Perugia, Italy.
authors.forename: W J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Burger
authors.affiliation: TIFPA-INFN and University of Trento, via Sommarive 14, 38123 Trento Italy.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Battiston
mesh_terms: D018480:Astronauts; D003359:Cosmic Radiation; D009010:Monte Carlo Method; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D013026:Space Flight
keywords: Deep space human missions; Dose; Monte Carlo simulations; Radiation; Superconducting shield