Proton shielding efficiency of WC-LiBH₄-SBR for low Earth orbit satellites using PHITS

Authors

Ronah Ceniza Rollan ⋅ PH Department of Physical Sciences, Polytechnic University of the Philippines
Alleah Garzon ⋅ PH Department of Physical Sciences, Polytechnic University of the Philippines
Alexandra Vargas ⋅ PH Philippine Oncology Center Corporation
Rhenish Simon ⋅ PH National Institutes of Health, University of the Philippines Manila

Abstract

We evaluate the proton radiation shielding efficiency of a composite material with a lower density compared to a conventional space shielding material and the neutron particles produced. We carry out Monte Carlo simulations using PHITS to investigate the proton effectiveness of the varying ratios of a novel composite material based on tungsten carbide, lithium borohydride, and styrene butadiene rubber (WC-LiBH₄-SBR) and compare it to aluminum. Monoenergetic beams of low to high energies of protons experienced by low earth orbit satellites is used as a source particle. Using particle flux rates from the tallies, we calculate the shielding efficiency of the said composite material and compare it to aluminum. From this study, we found that WC-LiBH₄-SBR is a promising space radiation shielding material for its lower density and lesser secondary particles it produces compared to aluminum.

About the Speaker

Alexandra Vargas, Philippine Oncology Center Corporation

Medical Physicist

Downloads

Issue

2021: Proceedings of the 39th Samahang Pisika ng Pilipinas Physics Conference

Article ID

SPP-2021-PA-06

Section

Poster Session A (Condensed Matter Physics and Materials Science)

Published

2021-09-27

How to Cite

[1]

RC Rollan, A Garzon, A Vargas, and R Simon, Proton shielding efficiency of WC-LiBH4-SBR for low Earth orbit satellites using PHITS, Proceedings of the Samahang Pisika ng Pilipinas 39, SPP-2021-PA-06 (2021). URL: https://proceedings.spp-online.org/article/view/SPP-2021-PA-06.