Laser-plasma-based Space Radiation Reproduction in the Laboratory.
Space radiation is a great danger to electronics and astronauts onboard space vessels. The spectral flux of space electrons, protons and ions for example in the radiation belts is inherently broadband, but this is a feature hard to mimic with conventional radiation sources. Using laser-plasma-accelerators, we reproduced relativistic, broadband radiation belt flux in the laboratory, and used this man-made space radiation to test the radiation hardness of space electronics. Such close mimicking of space radiation in the lab builds on the inherent ability of laser-plasma-accelerators to directly produce broadband Maxwellian-type particle flux, akin to conditions in space. In combination with the established sources, utilisation of the growing number of ever more potent laser-plasma-accelerator facilities worldwide as complementary space radiation sources can help alleviate the shortage of available beamtime and may allow for development of advanced test procedures, paving the way towards higher reliability of space missions.
SUPA, Department of Physics, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK.
B
B
Hidding
Institut für Experimentalphysik, University of Hamburg, Germany.
O
O
Karger
Institute for Laser and Plasma Physics, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Germany.
T
T
Königstein
Institute for Laser and Plasma Physics, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Germany.
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G
Pretzler
SUPA, Department of Physics, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK.
G G
GG
Manahan
SUPA, Department of Physics, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK.
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P
McKenna
SUPA, Department of Physics, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK.
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R
Gray
SUPA, Department of Physics, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK.
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R
Wilson
SUPA, Department of Physics, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK.
S M
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Wiggins
SUPA, Department of Physics, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK.
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GH
Welsh
SUPA, Department of Physics, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK.
A
A
Beaton
SUPA, Department of Physics, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK.
P
P
Delinikolas
SUPA, Department of Physics, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK.
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DA
Jaroszynski
University of California, Los Angeles, USA.
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JB
Rosenzweig
Leibniz Supercomputing Centre, Boltzmannstr. 1, 85748 Garching, Germany.
A
A
Karmakar
European Space Agency, Noordwijk, Netherlands.
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V
Ferlet-Cavrois
European Space Agency, Noordwijk, Netherlands.
A
A
Costantino
European Space Agency, Noordwijk, Netherlands.
M
M
Muschitiello
European Space Agency, Noordwijk, Netherlands.
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E
Daly