Prototype of a segmented scintillator detector for particle flux measurements on spacecraft

Abstract

In this paper, we introduce a laboratory prototype of a solar energetic particle (SEP) detector which will operate along with other space-based instruments to give us more insight into the SEP physics. The instrument is designed to detect protons and electrons with kinetic energies from 10 to 100 MeV and from 1 to 10 MeV respectively. The detector is based on a scintillation cylinder divided into separated disks to get more information about detected particles. Scintillation light from isolated segments is collected by optical fibers and registered with silicon photo-multipliers (SiPM). The work contains the result of laboratory testing of the detector prototype. The detector channels were calibrated, energy resolution for every channel was obtained. Moreover, we present an advanced integral data acquisition and analysis technique based on Bayesian statistics, which will allow operation even during SEP events with very large fluxes. The work is motivated by the need for better measurement tools to study acceleration and transport of SEP in the heliosphere as well as by the need for the monitoring tool to mitigate radiation hazard for equipment and people in space.