Transport of Electrons and Associated Bremsstrahlung Through a Composite Aluminum-Lead Shield, with Applications to Spacecraft Shielding

摘要

Monte Carlo calculations have been made of the stopping of electrons and the penetration of secondary bremsstrahlung through layered aluminum-lead spacecraft walls. The results are presented in terms of the resultant radiation dose to objects inside. Dose values for monoenergetic incident electrons are given as a function of the aluminum/lead thickness ratio. These data, integrated over a few typical earth-orbit electron spectra, demonstrate the substantial reduction in radiation dose that can be achieved by replacing a portion of an aluminum shield with an inner layer of lead. The main results were obtained by applying a complex-geometry code to spherical-shell configurations. It was found that these results could be reasonably well approximated by an alternative and more economical approach, involving the use of slab-geometry transport results.