Abstract
Paul Scherrer Institut hosts the Proton Irradiation Facility used for radiation effects studies and exposure tests in preparation of satellite missions for the European Space Agency. The facility al- lows for realistic simulation of the space proton spectra in the energy range from 6 MeV up to 230 MeV with exposure fluxes ranging from very low up to as high as 109 p/cm2/sec. Recently, ap- proved ESA mission to Jupiter—JUICE—also brought a need for tests with high energy electron beams. For this purpose, another facility was established in the PSI secondary beam area piM1. Secondary particles are produced on the thick carbon target hit by energetic proton beam. Dedi- cated beam optics enables selection of the particle charge and momentum and guides them to the tests area. Characterization of electron beams at various momenta was performed with respect to their intensity, profiles and contamination by pions and muons. Electron fluxes ranging from 1.5 × 103/cm2/s at 20 MeV/c to 2.3 × 106/cm2/s at 345 MeV/c with gaussian beam profiles with FWHM of about 4 cm were measured. Beam contamination with heavier particles becomes negligible for all momenta lower than 115 MeV/c. This allows for using them for components and shielding cha- racterization and detector calibration experiments. Several such experiments have been already performed utilizing available beam time of few weeks per year.
Highlights
Secondary beam experimental areas of PSI are mainly used for basic research tests with pions and muons
An example of such mission is JUICE planned to be sent by the European Space Agency to Jupiter for studies of its icy moons and search for life-friendly inhabitants
In the relevant range from 115 MeV/c to 17 MeV/c the FWHM values increase from 4.4 cm at the highest up to almost 12 cm at the lowest momentum. Such enlargement can be explained by higher probability of electron scattering at lower energies, either in air or at the entrance and exit windows of the beam optics system
Summary
Secondary beam experimental areas of PSI are mainly used for basic research tests with pions and muons. Most of the experiments are devoted for studies of classic particle physics problems, some of the recent activities cover detector and shielding characterization tests for space missions. An example of such mission is JUICE planned to be sent by the European Space Agency to Jupiter for studies of its icy moons and search for life-friendly inhabitants. Instruments concept, operating conditions, quality of shielding and performance of any detection system onboard, including radiation monitors, must go through careful verification and optimization It requires new exposure facilities available for at least several weeks per year and able to deliver electron beams with energies and intensities enabling for instrument tests in mission semi-realistic or anticipated conditions. All steps leading to the facility characterization and commissioning are described in the following chapters
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