[ RadSafe ] Astrophysicists Report Radioactive Cobalt in Supernova Explosion

[Brennan, Mike (DOH)]

Some time ago an astrophysicist friend of mine sent me some numbers for the output of gamma ray bursts, and possible effects on the crew of the International Space Station.  I don't remember the numbers, but if the source was in our galaxy, and the Earth was in the beam, it would be bad.  As to the Space Station, I couldn't tell if the exposure would kill the crew outright, or if they would hold on long enough die from complete failure of every system on station.  The effects on the surface of the planet wouldn't be good, either.  

-----Original Message-----
From: radsafe-bounces at health.phys.iit.edu [mailto:radsafe-bounces at health.phys.iit.edu] On Behalf Of KARAM, PHILIP
Sent: Monday, September 08, 2014 12:45 PM
To: The International Radiation Protection (Health Physics) Mailing List
Subject: Re: [ RadSafe ] Astrophysicists Report Radioactive Cobalt in Supernova Explosion

Yep! Due to shielding by the supernova remnant only about 10% of the gamma radiation escapes into space, and that's over the space of a year.  I calculated that a supernovae would be close enough to Earth to give a sea-level dose of 1 Sv about once every 10 million years or so. But to get a lethal dose of radiation in a short period of time you'd have to be pretty close and think it's safe to say that the radiation wouldn't be what killed you.

Andy


P. Andrew Karam, PhD, CHP
NYPD Counterterrorism
One Police Plaza, Room 1109
New York, NY 10038
(718) 615-7055 (desk)
(646) 879-5268 (mobile)


-----Original Message-----
From: radsafe-bounces at health.phys.iit.edu [mailto:radsafe-bounces at health.phys.iit.edu] On Behalf Of Brennan, Mike (DOH)
Sent: Monday, September 08, 2014 11:40 AM
To: The International Radiation Protection (Health Physics) Mailing List
Subject: Re: [ RadSafe ] Astrophysicists Report Radioactive Cobalt in Supernova Explosion

As I understand it, if you are close enough to a supernova that the gamma is significant, you have other fairly pressing concerns.

-----Original Message-----
From: radsafe-bounces at health.phys.iit.edu [mailto:radsafe-bounces at health.phys.iit.edu] On Behalf Of KARAM, PHILIP
Sent: Monday, September 08, 2014 7:18 AM
To: ROY HERREN; The International Radiation Protection (Health Physics) Mailing List; Radsafe
Subject: Re: [ RadSafe ] Astrophysicists Report Radioactive Cobalt in Supernova Explosion

Supernovae produce about a solar mass (10^30 kg) of Co-56, which decays to Ni-56, and thence to Fe-56. The total amount of gamma energy released by the decay of the Co-56 and Ni-56 to stability is more than 10^49 ergs. I wrote a paper on this topic - along with the attenuation of the gamma dose by the supernova remnant and radiation dose to nearby stars and planets - in 2002; I believe it appeared in Radiation Physics and Chemistry.

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0969806X01004546

Cool stuff!

Andy


P. Andrew Karam, PhD, CHP
NYPD Counterterrorism
One Police Plaza, Room 1109
New York, NY 10038
(718) 615-7055 (desk)
(646) 879-5268 (mobile)

-----Original Message-----
From: radsafe-bounces at health.phys.iit.edu [mailto:radsafe-bounces at health.phys.iit.edu] On Behalf Of ROY HERREN
Sent: Monday, September 01, 2014 12:21 AM
To: Radsafe
Subject: [ RadSafe ] Astrophysicists Report Radioactive Cobalt in Supernova Explosion

http://mipt.ru/en/news/astrophysicists_report_radioactive_cobalt_in_supernova_explosion

Astrophysicists Report Radioactive Cobalt in Supernova Explosion


 
Roy Herren
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