Workshop Review: Radiation hardness testing at GSI

The workshop focussed on two Hi-Acts funded projects: GSI Biophysics' "Standardised Station for High-energy Heavy Ion Radiation on Electronics" project and GSI Materials Research's "Microprobe 2.0" project. Both initiatives mark significant progress in the field of radiation hardness testing for space electronics. Space missions are highly endangered by their harsh radiation environment. This environment consists of high-energy atomic nuclei (ions), which are very penetrating and can trigger malfunctions in electronics, including the total failure of components. To prevent this, mission-critical systems must be tested for their radiation hardness before being used in space. This is the only way to prevent damage to the electronics and materials of satellites and other spacecraft.

Standardised Station for High-energy Heavy Ion Radiation on Electronics (Use Case Initiative 2023)

The broad beam characterisation of electronics is currently done with heavy ions at low energies, which is challenging as Galactic Cosmic Rays (GCR) still contain heavy ions at energies above 100 MeV/n. Testing modern 3D electronics components used in space such as COTS (components-off-the-shelf) with low-energy ions requires complex and invasive sample preparation, sometimes just impossible without destroying the device.

At GSI, however, high-energy heavy ions are available that can penetrate up to 1 mm and more, allowing certain electronic components to be tested without special preparations. This advantage simplifies and specifies test procedures.

The Hi-Acts Use Case Initiative project carried out by GSI Biophysics in 2023 has made a significant contribution to the development of a standardised procedure for the assembly, positioning and irradiation of electronic samples. This development represents a significant step towards automation and standardisation in the testing of space electronics with high-energy heavy ion beams. As a result, resources will be saved and work will be more efficient, which will benefit the entire space industry.

Microprobe 2.0 (Use Case Initiatives, 2024)

The existing heavy ion microprobe at GSI-UNILAC enables the injection of charge carriers into spatially defined locations in integrated circuits for radiation hardness testing of detectors and electronics with ion microbeams. It focuses ions from the linear accelerator into a focal spot of ~500 nm diameter and scans it across the target. The effect of each individual event at its defined location in the electronic device is registered to compile a map of radiation sensitivity. Using the microprobe, users and developers can determine the localised effects of dense ionising radiation on electronic devices, such as those on their way to space qualification. The current Hi-Acts Use Case Initiative project “Microprobe 2.0” will upgrade the hardware and software systems of the current microprobe to an unique and user-friendly single-event effect test system for integrated electronic circuits. Microprobe 2.0 will facilitate industry access to GSI’s linear accelerator UNILAC to carry out their own electronic tests with ion microbeams more efficiently, with remote support from specialists.

Highlights of the workshop

During the workshop, participants set common goals taking into account GSI's beam time programme and received an insight into the European radiation hardness testing landscape as well as the expectations and needs of industrial users from Gerd Datzmann (DINI). One highlight was the presentation by Ruben Garcia Alia (CERN) on best practices in the field of radiation hardness testing. He shared his experiences from the two EU projects RADNEXT and HEARTS, both in cooperation with GSI, and explained the background to the creation of R2E at CERN.

During the workshop, various perspectives as well as technical and scientific boundary conditions were discussed in line with the requirements of potential users from industry and research. Approaches were discussed as to how these requirements can be aligned in the future in order to drive innovation and overcome challenges in radiation hardness testing. The workshop not only increased knowledge and understanding of radiation hardness testing methods, but also promoted dialogue between the various interest groups and sectors.

We look forward to the next steps, future developments and the continuation of the successful collaboration of all GSI colleagues who are active here, as well as with existing partners from space and accelerator physics.

Further information on our projects and future events can be found here on our Hi-Acts platform.