Proton-beam Facilities for Biological, Materials, and Technology Research
Protons dominate the particle radiation environment in interplanetary space, being the most abundant particles in both Solar and Galactic Cosmic Ray (GCR) radiation. The GCR proton spectrum has a broad peak from 200 to 500 MeV [Changran, et al. 2015], while Solar Proton Event (SPE) emissions have a spectrum that drops off more sharply above about 100-200 MeV [Xapsos, et al. 2000]. Humans, plants, materials, coatings, assemblies, instruments, and electronics are all susceptible to this radiation making research into the impact of proton radiation critical for enabling long-term exploration of space and allowing humanity to become a multi-planet species [National Academies, 2021].
