Processing of secondary radiation and cosmic ray data measured at flight altitudes with the pixel detector Timepix

Abstract

Experimental data of the secondary radiation field and cosmic rays inside passenger aircraft in the atmosphere at airline altitudes (10-12 km) were processed. High-resolution data were measured by the semiconductor pixel detector Timepix operated in a miniaturized radiation camera MiniPIX-Timepix. The detector provides precise characterization with quantum sensitivity in terms of deposited energy and visualization of the charged particle radiation and X-ray field. The data were processed at the pre-processing and processing level with an integrated SW tool (Data Processing Engine-DPE). Results and physics data products consist of particle flux, dose rate, deposited energy, deposited dose, field composition into broad particle classes (protons, electrons, X-rays) as well as detailed visualization of the radiation field with quantum imaging registration of single-particle tracks. In this work, the detailed analysis of two measurements, as well as comparative graphs of selected results between ten flights are presented. Results of the total absorbed dose are compared with values measured also by Timepix detectors on ground and in LEO orbit onboard a satellite.

Keywords

• radiation detection
• cosmic rays
• particle trajectories