BEAMS: Benchmark analysis and evaluations of materials for shielding

The goal of the BEAMS project is to provide a set of benchmark measurements of heavy ion beams behind 'standard' targets and to characterize the shielding properties of candidate multifunctional spacecraft materials. These measurements are used in testing and validating space radiation transport codes currently being developed by NASA and in selecting novel shielding materials for further development. During the previous fiscal year, measurements were made behind 'standard' targets of H2O, polyethylene (PE), graphite, Al, Ti, Cu, and Pb, as well as behind targets of novel shielding material including carbon and polymer composites, Martian regolith simulant, and Lunar regolith simulant. Target depths varied from 0.5 to >30 g/cm2. HIMAC beams used included 150 MeV/n 4He, 400 MeV/n 20Ne, and 500 MeV/n 56Fe. In addition the analysis of heavy ion irradiations made previously at HIMAC were completed. A representative sample of these results are included below. (author)