Abstract
This paper presents a calculation of nuclear radiation dose rates within the earth's atmosphere due to natural space radiation. Two conditions are considered—active sun and quiet sun. The active sun environment includes depressed galactic (cosmic) radiation fluxes and solar flare radiation based upon a model similiar to the Bailey model event. The quiet sun environment includes only the nondepressed galactic radiation. The spectra for both environments were truncated at the geomagnetic cutoff energy for the undisturbed field. Atmospheric attenuation was taken into account by using simple range-energy relations. Asymptotic nuclear reaction cross sections were used to calculate cascade and evaporation secondary fluxes. Gibson's flux-to-rad-dose conversion function and Rossi's RBE-LET relationship were used to yield rad and rem dose rates. In this way, dose rates as a function of altitude (10,000-100,000 ft) and geomagnetic latitude (0-90°) for both active and quiet sun conditions were obtained. The significance of the dose rates obtained for passengers and crew members of the Supersonic Transport (SST) is discussed.
Published Version
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