Experimental methods of correlation between the trajectories of cosmic heavy ions and biological objects: dosimetric results from the Biostack experiment on Apollo 16 and 17

Life Sci Space Res. 1974:12:57-63. doi: 10.1016/b978-0-08-021783-3.50011-8.

Abstract

The biological objects in the Biostack are stacked alternately between physical detectors of HZE particle tracks which include nuclear emulsions. The pattern of the biological objects is transferred to the upper side of the adjacent emulsion by optical illumination. On each sheet of nuclear emulsion a coordinate grid is transferred to the bottom side by optical illumination. The visible track left by the passage of the heavy ion can then be very clearly localized. The charge of the ions is determined by photometric measurements of the tracks. These measurements are calibrated with known tracks of heavy ions accelerated at the Bevatron at Berkeley. The results are given as: flux, number of stars per cm3, charge of the ions, comparison with other detectors (plastics, AgCl crystals, LiF), energy loss, hit region in the biological objects.

MeSH terms

  • Cosmic Radiation*
  • Heavy Ions*
  • Linear Energy Transfer
  • Particle Accelerators
  • Radiation Dosage
  • Radiation Monitoring / instrumentation*
  • Radiobiology / instrumentation
  • Radiobiology / methods*
  • Radiometry
  • Space Flight / instrumentation*