Fragmentation cross section measurements of iron projectiles using CR-39 plastic nuclear track detectors

For long term space missions in which larger radiation doses are accumulate d it is necessary to improve the precision of models predicting the space r adiation environment. Different models are available to determine the flux of cosmic ray heavy ions behind shielding material. The accuracy of these p redictions depends on the knowledge of the fragmentation cross sections, es pecially at energies of several hundred MeV/nucleon, where the particle flu x is at a maximum and especially for those particles with high LET, i.e. ir on nuclei. We have measured fragmentation cross sections of Fe-56 projectil es at beam energies of 700 and 1700 A MeV using experimental set-ups with p lastic nuclear track detectors. lu this paper we describe the experimental technique to study the fragmentation reactions of 56Fe projectiles using CR -39 plastic nuclear track detectors. Results for different targets are pres ented.