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Townsend, Lawrence W.

Publications and source records attributed to Townsend, Lawrence W..

At least 91 records · Page 5
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1989

Preliminary analyses of space radiation protection for lunar base surface systems

Radiation shielding analyses are performed for candidate lunar base habitation modules. The study primarily addresses potential hazards due to contributions from the galactic cosmic rays. The NASA Langley Research Center's high energy nucleon and heavy ion transport codes are used to compute propagation of radiation through conventional and regolith shield materials. Computed values of linear energy transfer are converted to biological dose-equivalent using quality factors established by the International Commision of Radiological Protection. Special fluxes of heavy charged particles and corresponding dosimetric quantities are computed for a series of thicknesses in various shield media and are used as an input data base for algorithms pertaining to specific shielded geometries. Dosimetric results are presented as isodose contour maps of shielded configuration interiors. The dose predictions indicate that shielding requirements are substantial, and an abbreviated uncertainty analysis shows that better definition of the space radiation environment as well as improvement in nuclear interaction cross-section data can greatly increase the accuracy of shield requirement predictions.

Nealy, John E.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Large solar flare radiation shielding requirements for manned interplanetary missions

Estimates are given for the radiation shielding thicknesses required to protect astronauts on interplanetary missions from the effects of large solar flares, on the basis of the integral proton fluences for several past solar particle events. NASA-Langley's nucleon transport deterministic computer code, BRYNTRN, is used to transport primary protons and secondary protons and neutrons through any number of layers of target material of arbitrary thickness and composition. The results of each flare are presented as estimates of dose equivalents to the skin, eyes, and blood-forming organs behind various thicknesses of aluminum shielding.

Townsend, Lawrence W.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Benchmark solutions for the galactic ion transport equations: Energy and spatially dependent problems

Nontrivial benchmark solutions are developed for the galactic ion transport (GIT) equations in the straight-ahead approximation. These equations are used to predict potential radiation hazards in the upper atmosphere and in space. Two levels of difficulty are considered: (1) energy independent, and (2) spatially independent. The analysis emphasizes analytical methods never before applied to the GIT equations. Most of the representations derived have been numerically implemented and compared to more approximate calculations. Accurate ion fluxes are obtained (3 to 5 digits) for nontrivial sources. For monoenergetic beams, both accurate doses and fluxes are found. The benchmarks presented are useful in assessing the accuracy of transport algorithms designed to accommodate more complex radiation protection problems. In addition, these solutions can provide fast and accurate assessments of relatively simple shield configurations.

Ganapol, Barry D.↗
NASA NTRS1989

BRYNTRN: A baryon transport model

The development of an interaction data base and a numerical solution to the transport of baryons through an arbitrary shield material based on a straight ahead approximation of the Boltzmann equation are described. The code is most accurate for continuous energy boundary values, but gives reasonable results for discrete spectra at the boundary using even a relatively coarse energy grid (30 points) and large spatial increments (1 cm in H2O). The resulting computer code is self-contained, efficient and ready to use. The code requires only a very small fraction of the computer resources required for Monte Carlo codes.

Wilson, John W.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Nucleon interaction data bases for background estimates

Nucleon interaction data bases available in the open literature are examined for potential use in a recently developed nucleon transport code. Particular attention is given to secondary particle penetration and the multiple charged ion products. A brief description of the transport algorithm is given.

Wilson, John W.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Solar-flare shielding with Regolith at a lunar-base site

The Langley high energy nucleon transport computer code BRYNTRN is used to predict time-integrated radiation dose levels at the lunar surface due to high proton flux from solar flares. The study addresses the shielding requirements for candidate lunar habitat configurations necessary to protect crew members from these large and unpredictable radiation fluxes. Three solar proton events have been analyzed, and variations in radiation intensity in a shield medium due to the various primary particle energy distributions are predicted. Radiation dose predictions are made for various slab thicknesses of a lunar soil model. Results are also presented in the form of dose patterns within specific habitat configurations shielded with lunar material.

Nealy, John E.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Radiation safety in commercial air traffic - A need for further study

The problem of radiation exposure of crewmembers in high altitude supersonic commercial aircraft is addressed. As a result of recent changes in the quality factors for radiological protection, it is found that worst case estimates of radiation exposure are now well above the exposure limits of the general population, and a reassessment of radiation impact on commercial aviation is needed, if the proposed quality factors are adopted. Calculations are presented from a study on neutron dosage equivalent rates. It is shown that a crew flying at altitudes near 13 km (43,000 ft) for 40 hr/mo would receive exposure levels of 47-75 Sv/yr, and it is suggested that such crewmembers be considered as radiation workers, rather than general population members. However, since present exposure estimates need to be improved, and the maximum permissible dose limits are currently under revision, the final exposure limits are, as yet, unclear, suggesting the need for further study to clarify the work status of commercial aircrews.

Wilson, John W.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Eikonal solutions to optical model coupled-channel equations

Methods of solution are presented for the Eikonal form of the nucleus-nucleus coupled-channel scattering amplitudes. Analytic solutions are obtained for the second-order optical potential for elastic scattering. A numerical comparison is made between the first and second order optical model solutions for elastic and inelastic scattering of H-1 and He-4 on C-12. The effects of bound-state excitations on total and reaction cross sections are also estimated.

Cucinotta, Francis A.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Multiple nucleon knockout by Coulomb dissociation in relativistic heavy-ion collisions

The Coulomb dissociation contributions to fragmentation cross sections in relativistic heavy ion collisions, where more than one nucleon is removed, are estimated using the Weizsacker-Williams method of virtual quanta. Photonuclear cross sections taken from experimental results were used to fold into target photon number spectra calculated with the Weizsacker-Williams method. Calculations for several projectile target combinations over a wide range of charge numbers, and a wide range of incident projectile energies, are reported. These results suggest that multiple nucleon knockout by the Coulomb field may be of negligible importance in galactic heavy ion studies for projectiles lighter than Fe-56.

Cucinotta, Francis A.↗
NASA NTRS1988

A general formalism for phase space calculations

General formulas for calculating the interactions of galactic cosmic rays with target nuclei are presented. Methods for calculating the appropriate normalization volume elements and phase space factors are presented. Particular emphasis is placed on obtaining correct phase space factors for 2-, and 3-body final states. Calculations for both Lorentz-invariant and noninvariant phase space are presented.

Norbury, John W.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Preliminary estimates of galactic cosmic ray shielding requirements for manned interplanetary missions

Estimates of radiation risk to the blood forming organs from galactic cosmic rays are presented for manned interplanetary missions. The calculations use the Naval Research Laboratory cosmic ray spectrum model as input into the Langley Research Center galactic cosmic ray transport code. This transport code, which transports both heavy ions and nucleons, can be used with any number of layers of target material, consisting of up to five different constituents per layer. Calculated galactic cosmic ray doses and dose equivalents behind various thicknesses of aluminum and water shielding are presented for solar maximum and solar minimum periods. Estimates of risk to the blood forming organs are made using 5 cm depth dose/dose equivalent values for water. These results indicate that at least 5 g/sq cm (5 cm) of water of 6.5 g/sq cm (2.4 cm) of aluminum shield is required to reduce annual exposure below the current recommended limit of 50 rem. Because of the large uncertainties in fragmentation parameters, and the input cosmic ray spectrum, these exposure estimates may be uncertain by as much as 70 percent. Therefore, more detailed analyses with improved inputs could indicate the need for additional shielding.

Townsend, Lawrence W.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Accuracy of analytic energy level formulas applied to hadronic spectroscopy of heavy mesons

Linear and harmonic potential models are used in the nonrelativistic Schroedinger equation to obtain article mass spectra for mesons as bound states of quarks. The main emphasis is on the linear potential where exact solutions of the S-state eigenvalues and eigenfunctions and the asymptotic solution for the higher order partial wave are obtained. A study of the accuracy of two analytical energy level formulas as applied to heavy mesons is also included. Cornwall's formula is found to be particularly accurate and useful as a predictor of heavy quarkonium states. Exact solution for all partial waves of eigenvalues and eigenfunctions for a harmonic potential is also obtained and compared with the calculated discrete spectra of the linear potential. Detailed derivations of the eigenvalues and eigenfunctions of the linear and harmonic potentials are presented in appendixes.

Badavi, Forooz F.↗
NASA NTRS1988

BRYNTRN: A baryon transport computer code, computation procedures and data base

The development is described of an interaction data base and a numerical solution to the transport of baryons through the arbitrary shield material based on a straight ahead approximation of the Boltzmann equation. The code is most accurate for continuous energy boundary values but gives reasonable results for discrete spectra at the boundary with even a relatively coarse energy grid (30 points) and large spatial increments (1 cm in H2O).

Wilson, John W.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Preliminary estimates of radiation exposures for manned interplanetary missions from anomalously large solar flare events

Preliminary estimates of radiation exposures for manned interplanetary missions resulting from anomalously large solar flare events are presented. The calculations use integral particle fluences for the February 1956, November 1960, and August 1972 events as inputs into the Langley Research Center nucleon transport code BRYNTRN. This deterministic code transports primary and secondary nucleons (protons and neutrons) through any number of layers of target material of arbitrary thickness and composition. Contributions from target nucleus fragmentation and recoil are also included. Estimates of 5 cm depth doses and dose equivalents in tissue are presented behind various thicknesses of aluminum, water, and composite aluminum/water shields for each of the three solar flare events.

Townsend, Lawrence W.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Radiation safety in commercial air traffic

A recalculation of radiation dose rates in the stratosphere indicates that near 45,000 ft. the level is 1 to 1.6 m-rem/hour depending on solar activity. Consequently, flight crews operating at that height should be considered radiation workers with respect to safety level calculations. Uncertainties are introduced by the difficulty in ascertaining how many hours flight crews actually spend at that altitude and by the unresolved effects of galactic heavy ion collisions on the atmospheric neutron spectrum.

Wilson, John W.↗
NASA NTRS1988

A benchmark for galactic cosmic-ray transport codes

A nontrivial analytic benchmark solution for galactic cosmic ray transport is presented for use in transport code validation. Computational accuracy for a previously-developed cosmic ray transport code is established to within one percent by comparison with this exact benchmark. Hence, solution accuracy for the transport problem is mainly limited by inaccuracies in the input spectra, input interaction databases, and the use of a straight ahead/velocity-conserving approximation.

Wilson, John W.↗