FLUKA simulation of TEPC response to cosmic radiation

Area of Science:

• Radiation physics and dosimetry
• Aviation safety and occupational health

Background:

• Aircrew exposure to cosmic radiation is a significant concern for occupational health.
• Current dose assessment relies on codes, but discrepancies exist between free-atmosphere calculations and onboard measurements.
• The influence of aircraft structures on radiation dose is not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of aircraft structures on aircrew radiation exposure assessment.
• To compare the response of a tissue-equivalent proportional counter (TEPC) in the free atmosphere versus onboard an aircraft.
• To clarify the relationship between calculated and measured radiation doses within aircraft.

Main Methods:

• Simulation of tissue-equivalent proportional counter (TEPC) response using the Monte Carlo transport code FLUKA.
• Simulation of absorbed dose rate and ambient dose equivalent rate distributions as a function of lineal energy.
• Comparison of simulated TEPC responses in free atmosphere and onboard aircraft conditions.

Main Results:

• Successful simulation of TEPC response using FLUKA has been demonstrated for various radiation fields.
• Previous simulations showed good agreement between FLUKA code and experimental measurements.
• New simulations investigate the influence of aircraft structures on TEPC response.

Conclusions:

• The study provides insights into the influence of aircraft structures on radiation dosimetry for aircrew.
• Simulations help to bridge the gap between theoretical dose calculations and practical onboard measurements.
• Further comparison of calculated results with other data is necessary for robust exposure assessment.