For the neutron radiation environment in the low-earth orbit of the space station, this study develops a space neutron detector based on silicon stack sensors. The detector uses nuclear recoil method and nuclear reaction method to carry out indirect detection of neutrons and obtains the energy spectrum information of neutron radiation in the orbit of the space station. The proposed space neutron detector can detect space neutrons in a range of 0.025 eV to 10 MeV. The space neutron detector was equipped on the Space Radiation Biology Exposure Experiment Device carried by the Mengtian laboratory cabin module of the Tiangong Space Station. The neutron detector is used to provide real-time monitoring of the orbital neutron environment of the space station and obtain on-orbit detection data. This provides an important basis for investigating the mechanism of radiation effects caused by space neutrons on organisms and astronauts and provides necessary space environment parameters for examining single-event effects caused by secondary particles on electronic components of spacecraft.

pace neutron detector, space neutron radiation environment, silicon sensor, neutron spectrum measurement, Mengtian laboratory cabin module of the Tiangong Space Station

针对空间站轨道复杂的中子辐射环境, 设计一种中子探测器, 采用硅层叠结构, 利用核反冲法及核反应法进行中子的间接探测, 获取空间站轨道中子辐射的能谱信息。该中子探测器的探测范围指标为0.025 eV~10 MeV, 搭载于天宫空间站梦天实验舱的空间辐射生物学暴露实验装置上, 用于监测空间站低地球轨道的中子辐射环境, 获取在轨探测数据, 可为研究空间中子对生物体造成辐射效应的作用机理提供重要依据, 也可为研究次级粒子对航天器电子元件造成的单粒子效应提供必要的空间环境参数。