QinetiQ Geant4 Developments

Current ESA-Sponsored Activities and Status

The current phase of work is focused on developing software tools for space radiation shielding and effects analysis. The are several on going projects, these include:

• Radiation Effects on advanced Technologies: Models and Software - Part 1 (REAT-MS): Development of a simulation framework for Geant4 space application, and the Geant4 microdosimetry tool among the others.
• IONMARSE: Development of Radiation Shielding and Effects Phisics Models. Funded under the ESA Aurora Programme, this project will investigate and report on proton and ion interaction physics models which are applicable to the study of cosmic and solar particle event radiation effects on spacecraft systems and crews in interplanetary space.
• Space Energetic Particle Transport and Interaction for ESA Science Studies (SEPTIMESS): Review of potential energetic particle radiation effects to future ESA science missions; developments of mission oriented physics models in Geant4, and mission specific applications.
• Radiation Effects and Analysis Tools (REAT): Review of the radiation effects and technology trends; developments of MUlti-LAyered Shielding SImulation Software (MULASSIS) and GEant4 Microdosimetry Analysis Tool (GEMAT).
• SpaceGRID: Assessment of the GRID technology in relation with space research, in the area of radiation transport simulation in particular. Prototying of the GRID version of the MULASSIS code.

Previous ESA-Sponsored Activities

Initial activities focussed establishing the physics model and analysis requirements, and reviewing the extent to which they were fulfilled by Geant4 and other contemporary codes. In addition, options for interfacing with 3-D CAD tools were investigated, and a Sector Shielding Analysis Tool based on Geant4 was developed. During the second phase software modules to treat low-energy electromagnetic interactions, radioactive decay, and standard or arbitrary (user-defined) source particle distributions found in the space environment have been developed. Another software utility that has been developed allows the user to define materials information associated with the STEP interface for Geant4.

Key Personnel