A NEW EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH IN REAL-TIME DETERMINATION OF THE TOTAL QUALITY FACTOR IN THE STRATOSPHERE

A large part of space radiation is composed of protons and heavy ions. At the lower altitudes of supersonic transports (SST) the situation i s different because only a small number of heavy nuclei are still pres ent and their interactions in the atmosphere generate fragmentations a nd induced neutrons. A dose equivalent meter based on microdosimetric techniques, named CIRCE, was used for real-time determination of the q uality factor and dose equivalent in the stratosphere during aircraft flights at different altitudes and latitudes. The response of the syst em to high energy ions was tested with 320 MeV/amu C-12 ions at DUBNA Synchrocyclotron (Russia). The dose equivalent rates are in the 8.4-17 .2 mSv.h-1 range, and the total quality factors are in the 1.53-2.20 r ange.