Modelling radiation loads to detectors in a SNAP mission

Area of Science:

• Space Science
• Astrophysics
• Radiation Physics

Background:

• Optical detectors in space missions are susceptible to radiation damage.
• The Supernova Acceleration Project (SNAP) requires highly sensitive optical detectors for its mission.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the radiation-induced degradation of SNAP optical detectors.
• To model the radiation environment at the satellite's orbit.
• To predict performance degradation and identify mitigation strategies.

Main Methods:

• Developed a three-dimensional model of the SNAP satellite.
• Utilized the MARS14 Monte Carlo code for radiation transport simulation.
• Accounted for galactic cosmic rays and trapped radiation belt particles.

Main Results:

• Trapped protons are the primary contributors to the accumulated dose in photo-detectors.
• A 40% performance degradation is predicted for optical detectors over a four-year mission.
• The contribution of primary alpha particles was also estimated.

Conclusions:

• Radiation from trapped protons poses a significant threat to SNAP's optical detector performance.
• Shielding optimization is crucial for mitigating radiation damage and ensuring mission success.
• Further studies can refine shielding designs to minimize detector degradation.