The role of thermal and fission neutrons in reactor neutron-induced upsets in commercial SRAMs

Abstract

Reactor neutron environments can be used to test/screen the sensitivity of unhardened commercial SRAMs to low-LET neutron-induced upset. Tests indicate both thermal/epithermal (<1 keV) and fast neutrons can cause upsets in unhardened parts. Measured upset rates in reactor environments can be used to estimate the upset rates from thermal and fast portions of arbitrary neutron spectra.