@article{gledocs_11858_9345,
author = {Röstel, Lennart and Guo, Jingnan and Banjac, Saša and Wimmer-Schweingruber, Robert F. and Heber, Bernd},
title = {Subsurface Radiation Environment of Mars and Its Implication for Shielding Protection of Future Habitats},
year = {2020},
volume = {125},
number = {3},

abstract = {In order to quantify the optimal radiation shielding depth on Mars in preparation for future human habitats on the red planet, it is important to understand the Martian radiation environment and its dependence on the planetary atmospheric and geological properties. With this motivation we calculate the absorbed dose and equivalent dose rates induced by galactic cosmic ray particles at varying heights above and below the Martian surface considering various subsurface compositions (ranging from dry rock to water-rich regolith). The state-of-the-art Atmospheric Radiation Interaction Simulator based on GEometry And Tracking Monte Carlo method has been employed for simulating particle interaction with the Martian atmosphere as well as subsurface materials. We calculate the absorbed dose in two different phantoms: a thin silicon slab and a water sphere. The former is used to validate our model against the surface measurement by the Radiation Assessment Detector on the Curiosity rover, while the later is used to approximate a human torso, also for evaluation of the biologically weighted equivalent dose. We find that the amount of hydrogen contained in the water-rich regolith plays an important role in reducing the equivalent dose through modulation of neutron flux (below 10 MeV). This effective shielding by underground water is also present above the surface, providing an indirect shielding for potential human explorations at this region. For long-term habitats seeking the Martian natural surface material as protection, we also estimate the optimal shielding depth, for different given subsurface compositions, under maximum, average, and minimum heliospheric modulation conditions.},
note = { \url {http://resolver.sub.uni-goettingen.de/purl?gldocs-11858/9345}},
}