Nuclear data for space radiation

Human space flight requires protecting astronauts from the harmful effects of space radiation. The availability of measured nuclear cross-section data needed for these studies is reviewed in the present paper. The energy range of interest for radiation protection is approximately 100 MeV/n–10 GeV/n. The majority of data are for projectile fragmentation partial and total cross-sections, including both charge changing and isotopic cross-sections. The cross-section data are organized into categories which include charge changing, elemental, isotopic for total, single and double differential with respect to momentum, energy and angle. Gaps in the data relevant to space radiation protection are discussed and recommendations for future experiments are made.

► Nuclear fragmentation data appropriate for validating nuclear reaction models used for space radiation are reviewed. ► Extensive tables are provided which show significant gaps in the available data. ► Recommendations are made for future experiments.