Compact Combined Ion and Neutron Spectrometer (CINS) for Space Application

Abstract

We are developing a combined ion and neutron spectrometer (CINS) for space applications inside interplanetary transport vehicles and on planetary surfaces. Our concept for a charged particle telescope includes thick silicon detectors and both thin and thick scintillators. The neutron spectrometer has been under development since 1997 with versions being flown on aircraft and balloon flights. We present 1) charge and energy spectra for the thick silicon detectors from heavy ion experiments; 2) typical neutron prompt and delayed pulse height spectra from neutron accelerator beam experiments; and 3) simulations from modeling of the compact charged particle telescope showing ion species identification and energy deposition spectra.