Open Topic for Radiation Hardened Microelectronics

The overall objective for this Missile Defense Agency (MDA) Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) is to research, develop, implement and commercialize a family of extremely stable and reliable Non-Radioisotope Portable/Compact Beta and Gamma Ray Emulation Table Top Unit (TTU) Machines that can achieve and exceed the photon energies and dose of radioactive Cobalt (Co-60) sources so as to effectively be MIL-STD-883 compliant. This proposed MDA STTR will produce 5+ mega-electron-volt (MeV) electrons and 2+ MeV photons. InnoSys, with the cooperation of the University of Utah (UofU), will perform detailed design, experiments and measurements, and simulation and modeling, using largely existing equipment and capabilities at InnoSys and the UofU. Our research is for a compact and portable advanced beta and gamma ray emulation machine that can provide alternative and unique irradiation testing which can simultaneously produce both MeV electrons and photons for testing microelectronics and other components of interest to MDA and the Department of Defense (DoD) in general. This will allow the replacement of high-activity radioisotope sources such as Cesium (Cs-137) and Cobalt (Co-60) which pose radiological safety and security risks. Our development will offer the ability to safely, effectively, and economically produce/generate emulated beta and gamma rays (X-ray photons) to irradiate semiconductors and microelectronics essentially in any lab and with reduced requirements for security and safety overhead. The radiation machine we propose poses no radiation hazard when ‘turned-off. This proposed study is to develop portable, low size, weight, and power designs using novel methods to reach dose rates needed to perform MIL-STD-883 compliant total integrated dose (TID) testing, with enclosed shielded system, independently controllable flux and energy environment, and a stable and repeatable beam. We successfully completed the Phase I design and feasibility and are ready to implement the Beta particle and Gamma Ray TTU in Phase II. Approved for Public Release | 25-MDA-12220 (23 Sep 25)