Standards of Irradiation TID Tests for Space Applications

Focus in most significative features of irradiation testing according to different standards, is essential after determine if it is necessary to perform an irradiation test. (link al otro artículo)

This question is one of the most common problems which we have to deal with when we want to perform an irradiation test (more specific a Total Ionizing Dose – TID – test) is how different is one irradiation standard from another. Are we accomplish the particular point of this or that standard when we refer to one specific aspect of our test once the irradiation standard was chosen.

Alter Technology has accumulated significant experience, conducting more than 1000 radiation test campaigns over more than 27 years for ESA projects, and commercial Space Programmes for Space agencies worldwide.

MIL-STD-883 TM1019.9

1.1 Irradiation Sources

This method describes the use of gamma rays using a Cobalt 60 source only.

1.2 Dose rates

Five conditions are expressed in this MIL-STD method depending on considered dose rate range or, in some situation, a variety of dose rate is not specified. Still, a condition of accelerated annealing is referred.

The next table summarizes these aspects:

1.3 Irradiation room temperature range

For this standard, the temperature range is established in the interval: 18ºC≤IRRADIATION ROOM TEMPERATURE≤30ºC.

1.4 Electrical measurement temperature range

For this feature is specified the same range than in the previous irradiation temperature.

1.5 Irradiation temperature transport

In the case of the remote test (in a location different than the irradiation room), the samples must remain at a temperature lower than 10ºC plus the irradiation temperature. During the transport, all leads must be shorted.

1.6 Time to give back the samples to the irradiation area between irradiation steps.

This method establishes the samples must be replaced in the same irradiation position between two irradiation steps before two hours from stopping.

2 MIL-STD-750 TM1019.5

2.1 Irradiation Sources

Same the previous method, in this case, the use of gamma rays using a Cobalt 60 source is mandatory.

2.2 Dose rates

Three conditions are expressed in this MIL-STD method depending on considered dose rate range or, in some condition, a range of dose rate is not specified. Still, a condition of accelerated annealing is referred.

The next table summarizes these aspects:

 2.3 Irradiation room temperature range

For this standard the temperature range is established in the interval: 18ºC ≤ IRRADIATION ROOM TEMPERATURE ≤ 30ºC.

 2.4 Electrical measurement temperature range

The range is established within the Interval: 20ºC ≤ ROOM TEMPERATURE ≤30ºC.

2.5 Irradiation temperature transport

In the case of the remote test (in a location different than the irradiation room), the samples must remain at a temperature lower than 10ºC plus the irradiation temperature. During the transport, all leads must be shorted.

2.6 Time to give back the samples to the irradiation area between irradiation steps.

This method establishes the samples must be replaced in the same irradiation position between two irradiation steps before two hours from stopping and, besides, it is established in one hour the time from the extraction and start of the electrical measurements.

3 ESCC22900 Issue 5

3.1 Irradiation Sources

This method allows using either cobalt 60 gamma-ray sources or an electron source.

3.2 Dose rates

Two conditions are expressed in this ESCC standard depending on the considered dose rate range.

The next table summarizes these aspects:

It is possible to study ELDR (Enhance Low Dose Rate) in the case of evaluation for devices that contains bipolar and optoelectronics within a low dose rate window for discrete devices or within one range of dose rate lower than 36rad(Si)/h for integrated circuits.

It is possible to study ELDR (Enhance Low Dose Rate) in the case of evaluation for devices that contains bipolar and optoelectronics within a low dose rate window for discrete devices or within one range of dose rate lower than 36rad(Si)/h for integrated circuits.

3.3 Irradiation room temperature range

For this standard the temperature range is established in the interval: 10ºC≤ IRRADIATION ROOM TEMPERATURE ≤30ºC. Variations of more than 3ºC are not allowed.

3.4 Electrical measurement temperature range

There is no temperature range for this point in this standard. The standards refer to use the temperature indicated in the detail specification.

3.5 Irradiation temperature transport

In the case of the remote test (in a location different than the irradiation room), the samples must remain at a temperature lower than 10ºC plus the irradiation temperature. During the transport, all leads must be shorted.

3.6 Time to give back the samples to the irradiation area between irradiation steps.

This method establishes as in the previous one; the samples must be replaced in the same irradiation position between two irradiation steps before two hours from stopping and, besides, it is established in one hour the time from the extraction and start of the electrical measurements.

4 ASTMF 1892-12 (2018)

4.1 Irradiation Sources

This method allows using either cobalt 60 or Cesium 137gamma ray source or X-Ray source, if low energy (lower than 10keV).

4.2 Dose rates

Four conditions are expressed in this ASTM standard depending on the considered dose rate range.

It is important to highlight that this standard considers the target material as Si2O instead of Si as in the previous standards referred to in this article.

The next table summarizes the aspects related to dose rate range:

4.3 Irradiation room temperature range

For this standard, the temperature range is established in the interval: 18ºC ≤ IRRADIATION ROOM TEMPERATURE ≤ 30ºC.

4.4 Electrical measurement temperature range

For this feature is specified the same range than in the previous irradiation temperature criteria.

4.5 Irradiation temperature transport

In the case of the remote test (in a location different than the irradiation room), the samples must remain at a temperature lower than 10ºC plus the irradiation temperature. During the transport, all leads must be shorted.

4.6 Time to give back the samples to the irradiation area between irradiation steps.

This method establishes the time must be minimized and recorded. When CONDITION A of dose rate is used, this time between irradiation and test must be <10% of the incremental irradiation time (or 1h, whichever is greater) and the time between irradiations maybe 20% of incremental irradiation time (or 2h, whichever is greater).