Technical Article

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

¹ Institut für Experimentelle und Angewandte Physik, Universität Kiel, 24118 Kiel, Germany
² Universidad de Alcalá, Space Research Group, 28805 Alcalá de Henares, Spain
³ National Observatory of Athens/IAASARS, 11810 Athens, Greece
⁴ SMD/Heliophysics Division, NASA HQ, 20546 Washington, DC, USA
⁵ Max-Planck-Institut für Sonnensystemforschung, 37077 Göttingen, Germany

^* Corresponding author: kuehl@physik.uni-kiel.de

Received: 28 May 2020
Accepted: 30 September 2020

Abstract

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.