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Post by PhantomWolf on Aug 18, 2005 3:22:19 GMT -4
So what is the main radiation component of the van Allen belt and galactic cosmic radiation? Charged Particles. There are 2 Van Allen Belts, the inner and outer. The inner belt is mostly high energy protons, a lot of them liberated from atoms in the upper atmosphere, The outer belt is mostly high energy electrons. There are captured from the solar winds. They are both trapped in the belts by the magnetic field of the Earth. Gamma is electromgnetic radiation and isn't affected by the Earth's magnetic field at all. Both Beta and Alpha are particle, like the VA Belts. The belts are essentially Beta, though they are protrons as well as electrons. lpha can be stopped by a sheet of paper, but Beta is a little more penatrative. Even with the shielding of the Command Module allowed some through. Yes and no. It'd possibly protect somwhat against charged particles if you can set it up right, just as the Earth's magnetic field does, but it'd do diddly squat against the real danger of gamma radiation from solar flares, Cosmic and GRB's. We are protected by our atmosphere, but on a ship, they'd have to have some other form of shielding.
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Post by gwiz on Aug 18, 2005 3:24:26 GMT -4
So what is the main radiation component of the van Allen belt and galactic cosmic radiation? Would it be gamma, as I suspect the other 2 forms of radiation alpha and beta would be stopped by the outer skin of the space craft. Alpha is stopped by skin. Would an artificial magnetic shield work, assuming it was powered by a nuclear power plant. (Vital for going to Mars, not that congress will allow funding for that one ) Van Allen radiation is protons and electrons, cosmic radiation is mainly protons with heavier nuclei and can be very high energy. Solar flares produce a lot of X-radiation. I've a vague memory that the Soviets tried a magnetic or electric field for shielding on one of their early biosats, but I've no idea how well it worked. I don't think they repeated the test, so maybe it wasn't that effective or it proved heavier than the alternatives.
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Post by Kiwi on Aug 18, 2005 7:59:27 GMT -4
Using lead to shield against particle radiation is not so bright. Heavy metals do not attenuate or moderate high speed neutrons or protons well at all, they mostly scatter them. Water, oil, polyurethane and other hydrogenous materials do a much better job. Add some borated poly to capture the neutrons and you have a very nice shield indeed. Water and hydrogen may come in handy on a voyage. While lead is a good gamma shield, water in sufficient quantities to shield particle radiation will take care of the gammas too. So does margamatix have any good reasons to use so much lead?Ranb Welcome Ranb. As Margamatix hasn't answered, I'll try for him: Yes, because he doesn't understand your post.
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Post by PhantomWolf on Aug 18, 2005 8:45:21 GMT -4
I figured that his reason was "because I said so,so there, nah, nah, nah, nah, nah, you're all wrong and I'm right" ears into ears
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Post by gwiz on Aug 18, 2005 9:11:47 GMT -4
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