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Calculations of solar energetic particle event (SPE) doses typically utilize SPE proton spectra parameterized with either an exponential in rigidity (momentum per unit charge) or a Weibull form in energy. In this work we report organ doses calculated using these two different parameterizations of proton spectra of four large solar energetic particle events. They are the SPEs of August 4, 1972, August 12, 1989, September 29, 1989 and October 19, 1989. The variations in predicted doses to critical organs introduced by the use of these two parameterizations for these large events could be a factor in evaluating the effectiveness of spacecraft shielding. Events similar to the largest SPEs observed during the space age could deliver large organ doses and the potential for an acute radiation syndrome response in interplanetary crews.

Over the past two decades, various models of “worst case” solar energetic particle event (SPE) spectra have been proposed in order to place an upper bound on the likely doses to critical body organs of astronauts on missions outside Earth’s geomagnetic field. In this work, direct comparisons of organ dose estimates for various models of “worst case” SPE spectra are made by using the same transport code (BRYNTRN) and the same human geometry model (Computerized Anatomical Man). The calculations are made assuming nominal thicknesses of spacecraft aluminum shielding. Discussions of possible acute exposure responses from these exposures are presented.