The Electron Proton Helium INstrument as an example for a Space Weather Radiation Instrument

• Main Authors: Kühl Patrick, Heber Bernd, Gómez-Herrero Raúl, Malandraki Olga, Posner Arik, Sierks Holger
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: EDP Sciences 2020-01-01
• Series: Journal of Space Weather and Space Climate
• Subjects: energetic particle detector; space weather instrumentation; cosmic rays; solar energetic particle events
• Online Access: https://www.swsc-journal.org/articles/swsc/full_html/2020/01/swsc200043/swsc200043.html

The near-Earth energetic particle environment has been monitored since the 1970’s. With the increasing importance of quantifying the radiation risk for, e.g. for the human exploration of the Moon and Mars, it is essential to continue and further improve these measurements. The Electron Proton Helium INstrument (EPHIN) on-board SOHO continually provides these data sets to the solar science and space weather communities since 1995. Here, we introduce the numerous data products developed over the years and present space weather related applications. Important design features that have led to EPHINs success as well as lessons learned and possible improvements to the instrument are also discussed with respect to the next generation of particle detectors.