Open Topic for Radiation Hardened Microelectronics

The overall objective for this topic is to research, develop, implement and commercialize a family of extremely stable and reliable Non-Radioisotope Portable/Compact Gamma + Beta Ray Emulation Machines with hardware and include artificial intelligence/machine learning (AI/ML) software testing and analysis that can achieve and exceed the photon energies and dose of radioactive cobalt (60Co) sources so as to effectively be MIL-STD-883 compliant. InnoSys and the University of Utah propose to perform fundamental research and development on novel emulation radiation approaches for compact and portable advanced beta and gamma ray emulation machine that can provide alternative and unique irradiation testing which can simultaneously produce both million electron volts electrons and photons for testing microelectronics and other components of interest to Missile Defense Agency and Department of Defense in general. This will allow the replacement of high-activity radioisotope sources such as Cesium (137Cs) and Cobalt (60Co) 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 photon) to irradiate semiconductors and microelectronics essentially anywhere and with reduced need for security and safety overhead. The radiation machine we propose poses no radiation hazard when æturned-offÆ and requires a smaller amount of shielding during use. 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 TID testing, with photon energies surpassing, on-average, 2 million electron volts in an enclosed shielded system and independently controllable flux and energy environment with a stable and repeatable beam. We will expand the testing, characterization, and diagnostic capabilities to include artificial AI/ML for modeling and simulation, radiation testing, and radiation test methodologies. We will also provide system component health monitoring including in-situ monitoring during radiation events to determine impacts of effects and application of automatic annealing techniques to maintain system operation. We will incorporate the capability of testing radio frequency (RF) devices and communication integrated circuits in-situ in a radiation environment including, but not limited to, measuring S Parameters, gain, phase shift, output power, modulation schemes, etc. 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. Approved for Public Release | 24-MDA-11906 (16 Sep 24)