Radiation risks to humans in space will be better understood if ground-based mixed field irradiations are developed and used to measure the overall effectiveness of proposed space radiation shielding. The space environment is composed of wide range of particles containing various energies. Existing measurements illustrate the properties of galactic cosmic rays (GCR) in particle fluence and species. However, it is nearly impossible to simulate a radiation environment corresponding to both properties at once. Since the final objective of this thesis research is to understand radiation risks, and radiation risks are more directly related to the energy deposited in the human tissue than to fluence and charge, the more likely goal would be reproducing the linear energy transfer (LET) spectrum found in the GCR. The purpose of this thesis research is to use a Monte Carlo transport code to study the fragmentation of a combined iron and proton beam source using a multi-depth moderator block to reproduce the LET component of the GCR. To study mixed-field radiation exposures, the Monte Carlo transport code - Particle and Heavy Ion Transport code System (PHITS) will be used. Calculations showed it is necessary to design a moderator block that contains two different thicknesses - one with a length less than 23 cm and one with a length greater than 23 cm. The thinner moderator will allow high-Z particles to pass through and produce heavy-ion fragments that contribute mostly in the high-LET range. The thicker moderator will stop most of fragments and only allow lighter ions to penetrate and contribute to the mid-range and low-LET portion of the GCR spectrum. Since iron beams along will not produce enough low-LET particles, proton beams were employed to increase the abundance of the low-LET portion of the GCR spectrum. After series of studies, it was concluded that a 17 cm and 49 cm thickness will be most effective. The initial conclusion of this project was that it is possible to produce the GCR environment using a multi-depth moderator block and a combined iron and proton beam.

Master of Science / Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering / J. Kenneth Shultis / A program which calculates the radiation dosage to a predetermined set of components inside of a kill vehicle as a result of natural or artificial radiation sources has been developed for use within the confines of a parent external simulation. This dose can then be used to determine if a critical component has malfunctioned or failed completely, thereby rendering the interceptor unable to finish its mission. Knowledge of system and component performance as a function of incident high-energy particles leads to better battle management planning, CONOPS, and potentially a more efficient shielding design to achieve a higher probability of mission success.

abstract: Non-volatile memory (NVM) has become a staple in the everyday life of consumers. NVM manifests inside cell phones, laptops, and most recently, wearable tech such as smart watches. NAND Flash has been an excellent solution to conditions requiring fast, compact NVM. Current technology nodes are nearing the physical limits of scaling, preventing flash from improving. To combat the limitations of flash and to appease consumer demand for progressively faster and denser NVM, new technologies are needed. One possible candidate for the replacement of NAND Flash is programmable metallization cells (PMC). PMC are a type of resistive memory, meaning that they do not rely on charge storage to maintain a logic state. Depending on their application, it is possible that devices containing NVM will be exposed to harsh radiation environments. As part of the process for developing a novel memory technology, it is important to characterize the effects irradiation has on the functionality of the devices. This thesis characterizes the effects that ionizing γ-ray irradiation has on the retention of the programmed resistive state of a PMC. The PMC devices tested used Ge30Se70 doped with Ag as the solid electrolyte layer and were fabricated by the thesis author in a Class 100 clean room. Individual device tiles were wire bonded into ceramic packages and tested in a biased and floating contact scenario. The first scenario presented shows that PMC devices are capable of retaining their programmed state up to the maximum exposed total ionizing dose (TID) of 3.1 Mrad(Si). In this first scenario, the contacts of the PMC devices were left floating during exposure. The second scenario tested shows that the PMC devices are capable of retaining their state until the maximum TID of 10.1 Mrad(Si) was reached. The contacts in the second scenario were biased, with a 50 mV read voltage applied to the anode contact. Analysis of the results show that Ge30Se70 PMC are ionizing radiation tolerant and can retain a programmed state to a higher TID than NAND Flash memory. / Dissertation/Thesis / Masters Thesis Electrical Engineering 2015

SMOS (Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity) is ESA's Earth Explorer series satellite carrying the novel MIRAS (Microwave Imaging Radiometer with Aperture Synthesis) interferometric synthetic aperture radar. Its objective is monitoring and studying the planet's water cycle by following the changes in soil moisture levels and ocean surface salt concentrations on a global scale. The success of the mission calls for nearly uninterrupted operation of the science payload. However, the instrument experiences sporadically problems with its hardware, which cause losses of scientific data and may require intervention from ground to resolve. The geographical areas in which most of these anomalies occur, polar regions and the South-Atlantic anomaly, give cause to assume these problems are caused by charged particles in the planet's ionosphere. In this thesis, methods of predicting occurrence of hardware anomalies from indicators of Earth radiation environment are investigated.

Les champs radiatifs dans le complexe d’accélérateurs du CERN sont caractérisés par des particules mixtes avec un large spectre d’énergie. Le système de surveillance des radiations, le RadMon, a été développé pour la mesure distribuée, et en temps réel, des radiations et ses effets sur l’électronique installée dans les tunnels et les zones expérimentales. Pendant la première phase d’opération du RADMON, un problème critique a été identifié sur les mémoires SRAM utilisées comme capteurs de fluence des hadrons de hautes énergies. Un large nombre de MCU (Multiple Cell Upsets), générés par des microlatchups, ont commencé à apparaître sur les RADMONs, affectant ainsi la précision de mesure de la fluence. Une étude de la cause de cet effet a été réalisée et une solution utilisant un algorithme de détection et de correction en ligne, embarqué sur un FPGA, a été évaluée et mise en place sur les RADMONs installés dans les zones du SPS, PSB, NA62, HiRadMat, ALICE et CHARM.Par ailleurs, dans le cadre du projet CELESTA, une étude de faisabilité a été réalisée pour valider l’adaptation du RadMon à une charge utile pour des applications CubeSat de dimension 1U. Le travail de recherche a été soutenu par le service de transfert de connaissance du CERN en collaboration avec l’Université de Montpellier, le Centre Spatial Universitaire.Les tests expérimentaux ont été effectués dans le nouveau moyen de test CHARM. CHARM offre la possibilité de reproduire les champs radiatifs mixtes présents dans les installations du CERN ainsi que les basses orbites terrestres (LEO).Un module autonome de charge utile pour Cubesat a été développé et équipé avec des capteurs permettant de mesurer dose ionisante ainsi que la fluence des hadrons de haute énergie. Par ailleurs une expérience permettant de détecter des latchups a été ajoutée au module. Les résultats des tests ont permis la définition d’une nouvelle procédure pour la qualification des nano satellites au niveau des radiations sur le système. Ce travail de thèse détaille l’approche suivie pour le choix et la caractérisation des composants utilisés sur la charge utile.La charge utile de CELESTA est le premier projet du CERN sur le sujet de la science des "small satellites". Il représente la première étape d’un intérêt croissant de l’utilisation du moyen de test CHARM pour des missions en environnement spatial. / Radiation fields in the CERN accelerator complex are characterized by mixed particles with broad energy ranges. A Radiation Monitoring System, called "RadMon", was developed for the distributed, on-line measurement of the complex radiation fields and their effect on the electronics installed in areas with a harsh radiation environment. The most recent version of the RadMon revealed a critical issue soon after deployment in the tunnel and the experimental areas. Multiple Cell Upsets (MCUs) arising from microlatchup events started showing up on the SRAM-based particle flux sensors equipped by the system, ultimately affecting the measurement and resulting in corrupted data and accuracy losses. A study of the generation of this effect was performed, and a solution using an on-line detection and correction algorithm embedded on an FPGA, was evaluated and implemented on the RadMon device.Furthermore, in the framework of the project CELESTA, a feasibility study was carried out to validate the adaptation of the RadMon to a 1U CubeSat payload. The research was supported by the CERN Knowledge Transfer as a collaboration between the University of Montpellier, the Centre Spatial Universitaire and CERN. Experimental tests were performed at the new CHARM facility, which allows the characterization of small components, as well as large systems, in a mixed-field representative of the Low Earth Orbit.A stand-alone payload module for 1U CubeSats was developed and equipped withsensors of ionizing dose and high energy hadron fluence. In addition a Latchup Experiment was added on the module as part of the scientific goals of the mission. Results of experimental tests led to the definition of a new procedure for the radiation qualification of small satellites at system level. Details of the characterization and the choice of components are presented together with the approach followed.The payload is the first small satellite module ever designed at CERN. It representsthe first step of an increasing interest towards radiation qualification at CHARM of electronics for low orbit space missions.

Space radiation is significantly harmful to electronic Components. The operating time, duration and orbit of the space mission are affected by the characteristic of the radiation environment. The aging and the performance of the electronic components are modified by radiation. The performance of the space systems such as electronic units, sensors, power and power subsystem units, batteries, payload equipments, communication units, remote sensing instruments, data handling units, externally located units, and propulsion subsystem units is determined by the properly functioning of various electronic systems. Such systems are highly sensitive against space radiation. The space radiation can cause damage to electronic components or functional failure on the electronics. A precisely methodology is needed to ensure that space radiation is not a threat on the functionality and performance of the electronics during their operational lives. This methodology is called as &rdquo / Radiation Hardness Assurance&rdquo / . In this thesis, the hardening of electronics against space radiation is discussed. This thesis describes the space radiation environments, physical mechanisms, effects of space radiation, models of the space radiation environment, simulation of the Total Ionizing Dose, and &rdquo / Radiation Hardness Assurance&rdquo / which covers Total Ionizing Dose and Single Event Effects testing and analyzing of the electronics.

Les particules de l'environnement radiatif naturel sont responsables de dysfonctionnements dans les systèmes électroniques. Dans le cas d'applications critiques nécessitant une très haute fiabilité, il est primordial de répondre aux impératifs de sûreté de fonctionnement. Pour s'en assurer et, le cas échéant, dimensionner les protections de manière adéquate, il est nécessaire de disposer d'outils permettant d'évaluer la sensibilité de l'électronique vis-à-vis de ces perturbations.L'objectif de ce travail est le développement d'outils à destination des ingénieurs pour la prédiction des aléas logiques induits par les radiations dans les mémoires SRAM. Dans un premier temps, des bases de données de réactions nucléaires sont construites à l'aide du code de simulation Geant4. Ces bases de données sont ensuite utilisées par un outil Monte-Carlo dont les prédictions sont comparées avec des résultats d'irradiations que nous avons effectuées sur des mémoires SRAM en technologie 90 et 65 nm. Enfin, des critères simplifiés reposant sur une amélioration de la méthode SIMPA nous permettent de proposer un outil d'ingénieur pour la prédiction de la sensibilité aux protons ou aux neutrons à partir des données expérimentales ions lourds. Cette méthode est validée sur des technologies de SRAM très largement submicroniques et permet l'estimation des évènements multiples, une problématique croissante pour les applications spatiales, avioniques et terrestres. / Particles from natural radiation environment can cause malfunctions in electronic systems. In the case of critical applications involving a very high reliability, it is crucial to fulfill the requirements of dependability. To ensure this and, if necessary, to adequately design mitigations, it is important to get tools for the sensitivity assessment of electronics towards radiations.The purpose of this work is the development of prediction tools for radiation-induced soft errors, which are primarily intended for end users. In a first step, the nuclear reaction databases were built using the Geant4 toolkit. These databases were then used by a pre-existing Monte-Carlo tool which predictions were compared with experimental results performed on 90 and 65 nm SRAM devices. Finally, simplified criteria enabled us to propose an engineering tool for the prediction of the proton or neutron sensitivity from heavy ion data. This method was validated on deep submicron devices and allows the user to estimate multiple events, which are a crucial issue in space, avionic and ground applications.