Light Ion Yields from Bombardment of Thick Targets by Protons, Helium-4 and Iron-56

Abstract

In March 2016 accelerator-based experiments colliding protons (0.4 and 0.8 GeV), helium (0.4 AGeV) and iron (0.4 and 0.8 AGeV) on thick aluminum targets with surface densities of 20, 40, and 60 g/cm2 were performed at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Space Radiation Laboratory (NSRL) at Brookhaven National Laboratory. Two targets were utilized in each experimental configuration. Hydrogen and helium ions were detected using organic liquid scintillators in conjunction with thin plastic scintillators at 10°, 30°, 45°, 60°, 80°, and 135° from beam axis. Time-of-flight techniques and pulse shape discrimination were used to identify light ion species in order to generate double differential energy spectra of the light ion fragments. Comparisons of these measured yields were compared with Monte Carlo calculations generated by MCNP6. These yields will be used to quantify uncertainty in radiation transport codes utilized in risk assessment for spaceflight missions with prolonged exposures to galactic cosmic rays.