OLTARIS: an efficient web-based tool for analyzing materials exposed to space radiation

Slaba, Tony C.; McMullen, Amelia M.; Thibeault, Sheila A.; Sandridge, Chris A.; Clowdsley, M. S.; Blattnig, Steve R.

doi:10.1117/12.898960

Cited by 3 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…Galactic Cosmic Ray Spectrum - BON2020 model - for the 2010 solar minimum ( 33 ). Data was generated and imported from OLTARIS ( 40 ).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A Data-Driven Variance Reduction Technique for Efficiently Modelling Astronaut Radiation Doses in Spacecraft in High-Energy Isotropic Radiation Fields

Moshovelis,

Iles,

Franich

2023

Radiation Research

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The ionizing radiation exposure to crew on current and future space missions can significantly increase their health risks for cancers, degenerative diseases, and other acute and late effects. A common approach for estimating risk to crew is by completing stochastic (e.g., Monte Carlo) or deterministic particle transport simulations. Within the simulated environment, a small fraction of the particle histories tracked will interact with the astronaut or detector, particularly for larger spacecraft such as the International Space Station, Tiangong Space Station or Lunar Gateway. These simulations can be computationally intensive as they require a very large number of particle histories to achieve a low statistical uncertainty. Variance reduction techniques are applied to simulations to reduce the computational time of the simulation while maintaining the same (or less) statistical uncertainty. The variance reduction technique developed herein involves applying a directional source bias to an isotropic radiation field, such as galactic cosmic rays, to reduce the quantity of particles that have a low probability of interacting with the astronaut or detector. A custom application has been developed utilizing the Geant4 Toolkit that computes the trajectories and energies of particles in three dimensions in the International Space Station using the Monte Carlo method. The results demonstrate the impact of our variance reduction technique on effective dose equivalence depending on: primary and secondary particle type (proton, neutron, photon, heavy ion, etc.), geometric volumes and spacecraft materials. Our variance reduction technique can be tuned by the user to optimize the simulation time depending on their objectives and enables rapid testing of different shield configurations and materials. This variance reduction technique is implemented easily using several input parameters for boundary conditions. Recommended values are presented for rapid implementation in simulations.

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“…Galactic Cosmic Ray Spectrum - BON2020 model - for the 2010 solar minimum ( 33 ). Data was generated and imported from OLTARIS ( 40 ).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Galactic Cosmic Ray Spectrum -BON2020 model -for the 2010 solar minimum (33). Data was generated and imported from OLTARIS (40). Implementing the VRT will alter the secondary particle production, and consequently, their contribution to dose.…”

Section: Geometry Dependencementioning

confidence: 99%

A Data-Driven Variance Reduction Technique for Efficiently Modelling Astronaut Radiation Doses in Spacecraft in High-Energy Isotropic Radiation Fields

Moshovelis,

Iles,

Franich

2023

Radiation Research

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“…An additional important caveat to the results above is that the simulations lacked a “back wall.” That is, the target is followed by the scoring volume, with nothing additional downstream. If a second wall is added (a geometry significantly more like a spacecraft or surface habitat), the effects of neutrons and other particles backscattered from the back wall appear to be significant ( 44 ).…”

Section: Nuclear Interactions and Shielding In Spacementioning

confidence: 99%

The Role of Nuclear Fragmentation in Particle Therapy and Space Radiation Protection

Zeitlin

Tessa

2016

Front. Oncol.

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The transport of the so-called HZE particles (those having high charge, Z, and energy, E) through matter is crucially important both in space radiation protection and in the clinical setting where heavy ions are used for cancer treatment. HZE particles are usually considered those having Z > 1, though sometimes Z > 2 is meant. Transport physics is governed by two types of interactions, electromagnetic (ionization energy loss) and nuclear. Models of transport, such as those used in treatment planning and space mission planning must account for both effects in detail. The theory of electromagnetic interactions is well developed, but nucleus–nucleus collisions are so complex that no fundamental physical theory currently describes them. Instead, interaction models are generally anchored to experimental data, which in some areas are far from complete. The lack of fundamental physics knowledge introduces uncertainties in the calculations of exposures and their associated risks. These uncertainties are greatly compounded by the much larger uncertainties in biological response to HZE particles. In this article, we discuss the role of nucleus–nucleus interactions in heavy charged particle therapy and in deep space, where astronauts will receive a chronic low dose from galactic cosmic rays (GCRs) and potentially higher short-term doses from sporadic, unpredictable solar energetic particles (SEPs). GCRs include HZE particles; SEPs typically do not and we, therefore, exclude them from consideration in this article. Nucleus–nucleus collisions can result in the breakup of heavy ions into lighter ions. In space, this is generally beneficial because dose and dose equivalent are, on the whole, reduced in the process. The GCRs can be considered a radiation field with a significant high-LET component; when they pass through matter, the high-LET component is attenuated, at the cost of a slight increase in the low-LET component. Not only are the standard measures of risk reduced by fragmentation, but it can be argued that fragmentation also reduces the uncertainties in risk calculations by shifting the LET distribution toward one that is more concentrated at low LET, where biological effects are better understood. We review previous work in this area, including measurements made by the Radiation Assessment Detector during its journey to Mars and while on the surface of Mars aboard the Curiosity rover. Transport of HZE is also critically important in heavy-ion therapy, as it is necessary to know the details of the radiation field at the treatment site. This field is substantially modified compared to the incident pure (or nearly pure) ion beam by the same mechanisms of energy loss and nuclear fragmentation that pertain to the transport of space radiation.

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Mitigating photo-induced artifacts on neural probes to understand CNS-related damage from space radiation

Hall

Kim

et al. 2022

Nano-, Bio-, Info-Tech Sensors, and Wearable Systems 2022

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OLTARIS: an efficient web-based tool for analyzing materials exposed to space radiation

Cited by 3 publications

References 13 publications

A Data-Driven Variance Reduction Technique for Efficiently Modelling Astronaut Radiation Doses in Spacecraft in High-Energy Isotropic Radiation Fields

A Data-Driven Variance Reduction Technique for Efficiently Modelling Astronaut Radiation Doses in Spacecraft in High-Energy Isotropic Radiation Fields

The Role of Nuclear Fragmentation in Particle Therapy and Space Radiation Protection

Mitigating photo-induced artifacts on neural probes to understand CNS-related damage from space radiation

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