A1 Journal article (refereed)
0.1-10 MeV Neutron Soft Error Rate in Accelerator and Atmospheric Environments (2021)

Cecchetto, M., Alia, R. G., Wrobel, F., Coronetti, A., Bilko, K., Lucsanyi, D., Fiore, S., Bazzano, G., Pirovano, E., & Nolte, R. (2021). 0.1-10 MeV Neutron Soft Error Rate in Accelerator and Atmospheric Environments. IEEE Transactions on Nuclear Science, 68(5), 873-883. https://doi.org/10.1109/TNS.2021.3064666

JYU authors or editors

Publication details

All authors or editors: Cecchetto, Matteo; Alia, Ruben Garcia; Wrobel, Frederic; Coronetti, Andrea; Bilko, Kacper; Lucsanyi, David; Fiore, Salvatore; Bazzano, Giulia; Pirovano, Elisa; Nolte, Ralf

Journal or series: IEEE Transactions on Nuclear Science

ISSN: 0018-9499

eISSN: 1558-1578

Publication year: 2021

Volume: 68

Issue number: 5

Pages range: 873-883

Publisher: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)

Publication country: United States

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1109/TNS.2021.3064666

Publication open access: Openly available

Publication channel open access: Partially open access channel

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/74591

Abstract

Neutrons with energies between 0.1-10 MeV can significantly impact the Soft Error Rate (SER) in SRAMs manufactured in scaled technologies, with respect to high-energy neutrons. Their contribution is evaluated in accelerator, ground level and avionic (12 km of altitude) environments. Experimental cross sections were measured with monoenergetic neutrons from 144 keV to 17 MeV, and results benchmarked with Monte Carlo simulations. It was found that even 144 keV neutrons can induce upsets due to elastic scattering. Moreover, neutrons in the 0.1-10 MeV energy range can induce more than 60% of the overall upset rate in accelerator applications, while their contribution can exceed 18% in avionics. The SER due to neutrons below 3 MeV, whose contribution has always been considered negligible, is found to be up to 44% of the total upsets in accelerator environments. These results have strong Radiation Hardness Assurance (RHA) implications for those environments with high fluxes of neutrons in the 0.1-10 MeV energy range.

Keywords: radiation physics; neutrons; protons; Monte Carlo methods; electronic components; random access memories; space technology

Free keywords: neutrons; protons; particle beams; mesons; life estimation; sensitivity; aerospace electronics

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Ministry reporting: Yes

Reporting Year: 2021

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