Session
Session 5: Radiation
Abstract
This paper describes a new approach to analyzing and achieving high radiation tolerance using commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) piece-parts in higher radiation operating environments. The approach herein combines empirical single event effects testing (SEE) using, high-energy monoenergetic protons, with an analysis of the expected integral fluence and flux at higher particle energies not typically covered by proton testing. The empirical proton testing and analysis of the operating environment are then combined to estimate an overall likelihood of SEE in a given deep space mission. The concept of “limiting cross-section” is introduced, which places an upper bound on the worst-case susceptibility of any particular COTS device not covered by proton testing. This simple but powerful approach lets designers quickly evaluate the risk to hardware and missions not covered with testing. Lastly, it is observed that for many high-gate-count piece-parts with high-Z materials, which produce high-energy nuclear scattering, the use of proton screening for SEE may be almost entirely sufficient for select deep space environments.
A New Approach to Radiation Tolerance for High-Orbit and Interplanetary SmallSat Missions
This paper describes a new approach to analyzing and achieving high radiation tolerance using commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) piece-parts in higher radiation operating environments. The approach herein combines empirical single event effects testing (SEE) using, high-energy monoenergetic protons, with an analysis of the expected integral fluence and flux at higher particle energies not typically covered by proton testing. The empirical proton testing and analysis of the operating environment are then combined to estimate an overall likelihood of SEE in a given deep space mission. The concept of “limiting cross-section” is introduced, which places an upper bound on the worst-case susceptibility of any particular COTS device not covered by proton testing. This simple but powerful approach lets designers quickly evaluate the risk to hardware and missions not covered with testing. Lastly, it is observed that for many high-gate-count piece-parts with high-Z materials, which produce high-energy nuclear scattering, the use of proton screening for SEE may be almost entirely sufficient for select deep space environments.
