Date of Award

Summer 2014

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Electrical & Computer Engineering

Program/Concentration

Electrical and Computer Engineering

Committee Director

Ravindra P. Joshi

Committee Member

Vishnukumar K. Lakdawala

Committee Member

Duc T. Nguyen

Call Number for Print

Special Collections LD4331.E55 F896 2014

Abstract

A goal of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has been to develop technologies that will enable deep space explorations. Such missions include a prolonged stay on the Moon and the ability to sustain a long duration of travel time to Mars and beyond. Long-term human exposures to radiation are a crucial concern. Recent research has taken focus on active and passive shielding methods as a way of eliminating the hazard posed by radiation particles. Passive shielding involves the use of materials that has the ability to withstand radiation particles and reduce the dose by stopping or slowing the incoming charged particles. Active shielding, on the other hand, uses electrostatic or magnetostatic fields as a means for deflecting various ions. Each has its unique advantages and disadvantages.

The goal of this thesis is to show the advantages of using an active shielding method by utilizing a hybrid configuration which consists of both electrostatic and magnetostatic fields for particle protection. This configuration will utilize a modified electrostatic coil arrangement along with a superconducting coil for creating a magnetic field. This setup will show improved advantages over the standard hybrid configurations that have been previously presented. Improvements to the standard hybrid configuration are shown: (i) to have a much lower magnetic field present in a protected region, (ii) to provide greater shielding and repulsion of the transmission of incident ions from both Solar Particle Events (SPE) and Galactic Cosmic Rays (GCR), (iii) reduce the power requirement for re-charging the electrostatic sub-system, and (iv) require fewer coils which would lead to savings on costs for material and fuel.

The results will further show that the effects of SPE and GCR can almost be eliminated by the modified hybrid configurations and that advances in technology and design could fu1ther reduce the transmission percentage of particles. The power needed to replenish the electrostatic charges due to particle strikes from the GCR and SPE radiation will also be shown be small and insignificant.

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DOI

10.25777/yef4-zy32

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