A neutron irradiation facility for space applications Experiment Units for Space Life Science Workshop 8th June 2015 Roma ASI Valfredo Zolesi Kayser Italia S.r.l. Via di Popogna 501 57128 – Livorno (Italy) www.kayser.it
[email protected] Introduction Electronic components and systems and Living organisms in Space are subject to the effect of Cosmic radiation Electromagnetic fields Weigthlessness June 2015 KI-MARK-HO-259 1/0 2 Electronic components Electronic components are systems or physical entities which affect electrons or their associated field. Among other: passive, active, diodes, transistors, memories,…. Cosmic radiations have a deep impact . The improvements of the technology allow today for a decrease of gates physical dimensions, and as a consequence a low power and high frequency, but on the other side increasing the probability of fault. June 2015 KI-MARK-HO-259 1/0 3 Cosmic Radiation effects and countermeasures There are typically three methods of reducing the vulnerability of electronics to radiation damage: Rad-Hard by Design (RHBD) Rad-Hard by Shielding (RHBS) Rad-Hard by Process (RHBP) The effect of particles hitting the component (SEU – Single Event Upset) can be a Bit Flip: o Mitigation is often via a Triple Voting technique or EDAC Another important effect is a Latchup, when a short circuit is generated by the particle: o Mitigation is via an accurate design of the Power Distribution Unit (PDU). Electromagnetic fields play also an important role, and are normally mitigated by appropriate filtering. EMC and EMI Testing, associated also to irradiation facilities, increases the confidence level for long term missions.