Simulation of the GCR spectrum in the Mars curiosity rover's RAD detector using MCNP6

Hunter N. Ratliff; Michael B.R. Smith; Lawrence Heilbronn

doi:10.1016/j.lssr.2017.07.003

Simulation of the GCR spectrum in the Mars curiosity rover's RAD detector using MCNP6

Hunter N. Ratliff, Michael B.R. Smith, Lawrence Heilbronn

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

8 Scopus citations

Abstract

The paper presents results from MCNP6 simulations of galactic cosmic ray (GCR) propagation down through the Martian atmosphere to the surface and comparison with RAD measurements made there. This effort is part of a collaborative modeling workshop for space radiation hosted by Southwest Research Institute (SwRI). All modeling teams were tasked with simulating the galactic cosmic ray (GCR) spectrum through the Martian atmosphere and the Radiation Assessment Detector (RAD) on-board the Curiosity rover. The detector had two separate particle acceptance angles, 4π and 30 ° off zenith. All ions with Z = 1 through Z = 28 were tracked in both scenarios while some additional secondary particles were only tracked in the 4π cases. The MCNP6 4π absorbed dose rate was 307.3 ± 1.3 µGy/day while RAD measured 233 µGy/day. Using the ICRP-60 dose equivalent conversion factors built into MCNP6, the simulated 4π dose equivalent rate was found to be 473.1 ± 2.4 µSv/day while RAD reported 710 µSv/day.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	43-50
Number of pages	8
Journal	Life Sciences in Space Research
Volume	14
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lssr.2017.07.003
State	Published - Aug 2017
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

GCR
MCNP
MSL
Mars
RAD
Space radiation

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10.1016/j.lssr.2017.07.003

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title = "Simulation of the GCR spectrum in the Mars curiosity rover's RAD detector using MCNP6",

abstract = "The paper presents results from MCNP6 simulations of galactic cosmic ray (GCR) propagation down through the Martian atmosphere to the surface and comparison with RAD measurements made there. This effort is part of a collaborative modeling workshop for space radiation hosted by Southwest Research Institute (SwRI). All modeling teams were tasked with simulating the galactic cosmic ray (GCR) spectrum through the Martian atmosphere and the Radiation Assessment Detector (RAD) on-board the Curiosity rover. The detector had two separate particle acceptance angles, 4π and 30 ° off zenith. All ions with Z = 1 through Z = 28 were tracked in both scenarios while some additional secondary particles were only tracked in the 4π cases. The MCNP6 4π absorbed dose rate was 307.3 ± 1.3 µGy/day while RAD measured 233 µGy/day. Using the ICRP-60 dose equivalent conversion factors built into MCNP6, the simulated 4π dose equivalent rate was found to be 473.1 ± 2.4 µSv/day while RAD reported 710 µSv/day.",

keywords = "GCR, MCNP, MSL, Mars, RAD, Space radiation",

author = "Ratliff, {Hunter N.} and Smith, {Michael B.R.} and Lawrence Heilbronn",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2017 The Committee on Space Research (COSPAR)",

year = "2017",

month = aug,

doi = "10.1016/j.lssr.2017.07.003",

language = "English",

volume = "14",

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journal = "Life Sciences in Space Research",

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AU - Ratliff, Hunter N.

AU - Smith, Michael B.R.

AU - Heilbronn, Lawrence

PY - 2017/8

Y1 - 2017/8

N2 - The paper presents results from MCNP6 simulations of galactic cosmic ray (GCR) propagation down through the Martian atmosphere to the surface and comparison with RAD measurements made there. This effort is part of a collaborative modeling workshop for space radiation hosted by Southwest Research Institute (SwRI). All modeling teams were tasked with simulating the galactic cosmic ray (GCR) spectrum through the Martian atmosphere and the Radiation Assessment Detector (RAD) on-board the Curiosity rover. The detector had two separate particle acceptance angles, 4π and 30 ° off zenith. All ions with Z = 1 through Z = 28 were tracked in both scenarios while some additional secondary particles were only tracked in the 4π cases. The MCNP6 4π absorbed dose rate was 307.3 ± 1.3 µGy/day while RAD measured 233 µGy/day. Using the ICRP-60 dose equivalent conversion factors built into MCNP6, the simulated 4π dose equivalent rate was found to be 473.1 ± 2.4 µSv/day while RAD reported 710 µSv/day.

AB - The paper presents results from MCNP6 simulations of galactic cosmic ray (GCR) propagation down through the Martian atmosphere to the surface and comparison with RAD measurements made there. This effort is part of a collaborative modeling workshop for space radiation hosted by Southwest Research Institute (SwRI). All modeling teams were tasked with simulating the galactic cosmic ray (GCR) spectrum through the Martian atmosphere and the Radiation Assessment Detector (RAD) on-board the Curiosity rover. The detector had two separate particle acceptance angles, 4π and 30 ° off zenith. All ions with Z = 1 through Z = 28 were tracked in both scenarios while some additional secondary particles were only tracked in the 4π cases. The MCNP6 4π absorbed dose rate was 307.3 ± 1.3 µGy/day while RAD measured 233 µGy/day. Using the ICRP-60 dose equivalent conversion factors built into MCNP6, the simulated 4π dose equivalent rate was found to be 473.1 ± 2.4 µSv/day while RAD reported 710 µSv/day.

KW - GCR

KW - MCNP

KW - MSL

KW - Mars

KW - RAD

KW - Space radiation

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SP - 43

EP - 50

JO - Life Sciences in Space Research

JF - Life Sciences in Space Research

ER -

Simulation of the GCR spectrum in the Mars curiosity rover's RAD detector using MCNP6

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Keywords

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