Cited by 91Planetary Science and ExplorationAstro and Planetary ScienceRadiation Therapy and Dosimetry

The Martian surface radiation environment – a comparison of models and MSL/RAD measurements

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Matthiä, Daniel, Ehresmann, Bent, Lohf, Henning, Köhler, Jan, Zeitlin, Cary, Appel, Jan, Sato, Tatsuhiko, Slaba, Tony +13 more·2016·Journal of Space Weather and Space Climate

Abstract

Context: The Radiation Assessment Detector (RAD) on the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) has been measuring the radiation environment on the surface of Mars since August 6th 2012. MSL-RAD is the first instrument to provide detailed information about charged and neutral particle spectra and dose rates on the Martian surface, and one of the primary objectives of the RAD investigation is to help improve and validate current radiation transport models.

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Crossref · 10.1051/swsc/2016008

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73 of 74 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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  • The cylindrical geometry used to model the Martian atmosphere and surface neglects topographical details and mass shielding that may influence measured and calculated surface dose-rates.

    “The cylindrical geometry used to model the Martian atmosphere and surface is commonly used in such evaluations17–19, but nevertheless neglects topographical details (i.e. nearby boulders, hills, or valleys) and mass shielding that may influence measured and calculated surface dose-rates.”

    From Validated space radiation exposure predictions from Earth to Mars during Artemis-I (2025) · cites this paper as [17]

    Section 3.3 (page unavailable) says that simplified geometry changed calculated particle contributions to Martian surface dose rates. Section 2.2 describes the modeled atmosphere and soil, but our copy does not identify a cylindrical geometry or say that omitted nearby boulders, hills, valleys, or mass shielding affect measured and calculated dose rates. (LLM, conf=0.82)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Previous verification and validation efforts have demonstrated that while available models agree well with measurements and each other for absorbed dose, substantial disagreement can be found when underlying particle fluences are compared.

    “Previous verification and validation efforts have demonstrated that while available models agree well with measurements (and each other) for absorbed dose, substantial disagreement can be found when underlying particle fluences are compared8,17,18.”
  • Backscattered neutrons contribute little to the measured absorbed dose-rate in silicon reported by the RAD detector on the Martian surface.

    “Although backscattered, or albedo, neutrons are known to be present on the Martian surface17–19 and are important for human risk estimation, they contribute little to the measured absorbed dose-rate in silicon being reported by the RAD detector.”

    From Validated space radiation exposure predictions from Earth to Mars during Artemis-I (2025) · cites this paper as [17]

    Section 3.1 says one model lacks albedo contributions to its neutron spectra, and Section 3.3 compares modeled dose rates with RAD measurements. Neither passage isolates the contribution of backscattered neutrons to RAD’s measured absorbed dose rate in silicon. A negligible contribution from particles entering from the Martian soil is noted in Section 2.1.2, but that statement concerns charged particles, not neutrons. (LLM, conf=0.68)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

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Authors
Matthiä, D., Ehresmann, B., Lohf, H., Köhler, J., Zeitlin, C., Appel, J., Sato, T., Slaba, T., Martin, C., Berger, T., Boehm, E., Boettcher, S., Brinza, D. E., Burmeister, S., Guo, J., Hassler, D. M., Posner, A., Rafkin, S. C. R., Reitz, G., Wilson, J. W., & Wimmer-Schweingruber, R. F.
Affiliations
  • Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e. V. (DLR) (DE)
  • Southwest Research Institute (US)
  • Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel (DE)
  • Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JP)
  • Langley Research Center (US)
  • California Institute of Technology (US)
  • National Aeronautics and Space Administration (US)
  • Old Dominion University (US)
Venue
Journal of Space Weather and Space Climate
Publisher
EDP Sciences
Published
2016
Volume
6
Pages
A13
ISSN
2115-7251 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2291962335
Cited by
91
References
74
Citations by year
2026: 7 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 9 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 15 · 2019: 10 · 2018: 6 · 2017: 18 · 2016: 3
FWCI
5.90
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
cc-by
Locations
  • Journal of Space Weather and Space Climate (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Springer Link (Chiba Institute of Technology) (submittedVersion)
  • elib (German Aerospace Center) (submittedVersion)
  • ODU Digital Commons (Old Dominion University) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Funders
  • National Aeronautics and Space Administration (50QM1201, 50QM0501, 1273039)
  • California Institute of Technology
  • Southwest Research Institute (1273039)
  • Jet Propulsion Laboratory (1273039)
  • Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate
  • Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (15K11922)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Astronomy and Astrophysics › Planetary Science and Exploration
  • Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Astronomy and Astrophysics › Astro and Planetary Science
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine › Radiation Therapy and Dosimetry
Keywords
Mars Science Laboratory, Radiation Assessment Detector, radiation transport models, model validation, charged particle spectra, dose rate, Mars

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