Radiation Hardness Assurance Testing of Microelectronic Devices and Integrated Circuits: Radiation Environments, Physical Mechanisms, and Foundations for Hardness Assurance

TLDR

The document outlines the radiation environments, physical mechanisms, and test philosophies that underpin radiation hardness assurance testing, including space radiation sources, shielding effects, and fundamental radiation–material interactions. It explains why the test protocols are designed as they are, answering the question of why we test in that specific manner. It details laboratory radiation sources used to simulate environments, how to select appropriate sources, and discusses test considerations and mechanisms for total dose and single‑event effects testing.

Abstract

This document describes the radiation environments, physical mechanisms, and test philosophies that underpin radiation hardness assurance test methodologies. The natural space radiation environment is presented, including the contributions of both trapped and transient particles. The effects of shielding on radiation environments are briefly discussed. Laboratory radiation sources used to simulate radiation environments are covered, including how to choose appropriate sources to mimic environments of interest. The fundamental interactions of radiation with materials via direct and indirect ionization are summarized. Some general test considerations are covered, followed by in-depth discussions of physical mechanisms and issues for total dose and single-event effects testing. The purpose of this document is to describe why the test protocols we use are constructed the way they are. In other words, to answer the question: "Why do we test it that way"?