Radiation Hazard of Relativistic Interstellar Flight
arXiv:physics/0610030
Abstract
From the point of view of radiation safety, interstellar space is not an empty void. Interstellar gas and cosmic rays, which consist of hydrogen and helium nucleons, present a severe radiation hazard to crew and electronics aboard a relativistic interstellar ship. Of the two, the oncoming relativistic flow of interstellar gas produces the most intence radiation. A protection shield will be needed to block relativistic interstellar gas that can also absorb most of the cosmic rays which, as a result of relativistic aberration, form into a beamed flow propagating toward the front of the ship.
16 pages, 4 figures, minor grammar corrections, references added, submitted to Acta Astronautica