PAGE CONTENTS
Objectives
The objective of the project is to design, develop and test four prototypes of Miniaturised Radiation Monitor (MIRAM) which
- is planned for GEO Telecom satellite missions to monitor the cosmic radiation dose
- is based on pixel detector TimePix,
- is designed for 12-15 years of latch-free operation,
- is small with an order of magnitude reduction in the mass and volume as compared to previous radiation monitors,
- has lower complexity and replaces expensive materials compared to previous solutions,
- has reduced power consumption.
Figure 1: Timepix technology
Challenges
Main technical requirements for MIRAM
- Miniaturisation
- Power dissipation <1W
- Weight <150g
- Dosimeter for accumulated total dose + particle identification
- low price
System Architecture
The architecture of the device is based on a hybrid active pixel detector technology with diodes and shielding. The heart of the design is the Timepix chip with the read-out electronics. The particle species identification is designed with the sophisticated combination of the pulse height analysis, the coincidence scheme with absorbers and the analysis of cluster shapes and energy depositions. The MIRAM communicates with satellites just via a single standard CAN bus providing processed data products and receiving commands if necessary.
Current Status
The project is completed. It took 34 months from January 2018 to October 2020.
