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INFN Sezione di Roma 2 |  |
| Universita' di Roma Tor Vergata" |
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INFN Sezione di Roma 2 | |
| Universita' di Roma Tor Vergata" |
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| Beam Tests of SilEye2 in Uppsala -
June 1997 From left Gianluca Furano, Yuri Ozerov, Vladimir Shabelnikov, Alexander Popov, Aldo Morselli, Enzo Reali |
Sergej Avdjeev on the MIR Space
Station
with the SilEye2 apparatus (more photos in the photos gallery ) |
During the Apollo missions and on a few occasions
during Skylab, the crews, after some minutes of dark adaptation,
observed brief flashes of white light or pencil-thin streaks of
light. Since the first experiments the crucial importance
of the determination of the exact nature and causes of LF was
clear. Even now the continuing studies both on ground
accelerators and in space have not reached a complete understanding of
these complex phenomena. Aside for the scientific interest of this
project, physical, biological and medical goals are of primary
importance for manned space flight. Are they mere flashes similar to
other visual observations we make continuously and represent no danger?
Does each flash imply the destruction of one or more retinal cells? Are
the flashes observed and the resultant damage, although potentially
serious in itself, indicative of even more damaging interactions of HZE
(high Z energetic)
particles with other tissues, e.g. , the brain?
Similar questions linked to the general hazard in space
problem require detailed studies, especially in view of
Mars exploration.
To address these issues it is necessary to
employ a system which - in conjuction with the human observer - is
capable of direction, energy and particle identification. These
requirements, as well as the
typical power, weight and safety restrictions can be met with the
use of silicon strip detector technology.
This is what SilEye is.
Page maintainers: Aldo Morselli : Last update : 13/10/04