Regensburg 2007 – scientific programme

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EP: Fachverband Extraterrestrische Physik

EP 10: Poster

EP 10.4: Poster

Wednesday, March 28, 2007, 18:00–20:00, H46

Monte-Carlo model of the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) Radiation Assessment Detector (RAD) anti-coincidence — •Onno Kortmann, Rudolf Beaujean, Eckart Böhm, Stephan Böttcher, Sönke Burmeister, and Robert Wimmer-Schweingruber — Christian-Albrechts-Universität, Kiel, Schleswig-Holstein

RAD, the Radiation Assessment Detector on NASA's Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) rover mission is designed to detect a wide range of different particle species at energies up to 100 MeV/nuc. For some of those particles (especially neutral particles), a highly efficient (99.8%) anti-coincidence shielding against stray particles is neccessary.

We have set up a detailed GEANT4 optical photon model of the anti coincidence. The model includes a description of the scintillation, self absorption and total reflectance in the material. The diffuse reflector paper surrounding the scintillator is also simulated.

The model allows us to study scintillation light propagation in detail; the important results and the implications for the design and operation of RAD are presented.