Monte Carlo calculations of the influence on aircraft radiation environments of structures and solar particle events

Abstract

Radiation transport codes are applied to calculate the influence of aircraft structure and loads on the internal environment from galactic cosmic rays. Significant shielding effects are predicted, while thermalization of the neutron flux can lead to enhanced single-event upset rates in devices containing boron. The enhanced environments due to large solar particle events are calculated and shown to be very important for both single-event effects in electronics and dose to crew and passengers.