R. Wilkins

dc and rf performance of proton-irradiated AlGaN/GaN high electron mobility transistors

AlGaN/GaN high electron mobility transistors (HEMTs) with a range of gate lengths (0.8–1.2 μm) and widths (100–200 μm) were exposed to 40 MeV protons at fluences of 5×109 or 5×1010 cm−2. The drain–source currents in the devices decreased by 15%–20% at the higher fluence, while the extrinsic transconductance decreased by ∼30% under the same conditions. Based on the increases in the reverse breakdown voltage and the channel resistance, the main degradation mechanism is believed to be creation of deep trap states in the band gap which remove electrons from the channel. The maximum frequency of oscillation, fMAX, also decreased as a result of the proton-induced damage, with a change of −20% at the shorter gate widths and −50% at the largest widths. The reverse recovery switching time was essentially unaffected by the irradiation, remaining at ∼1.6×10−8 s. Postradiation annealing at 800 °C was successful in restoring the dc and rf performance parameters to ⩾90% of their original values. The AlGaN/GaN HEMTs are...

The energy dependence of proton-induced degradation in AlGaN/GaN high electron mobility transistors

The effects of proton irradiation at various energies are reported for AlGaN/GaN high electron mobility transistors (HEMTs). The devices exhibit little degradation when irradiated with 15-, 40-, and 105-MeV protons at fluences up to 10/sup 13/ cm/sup -2/, and the damage completely recovers after annealing at room temperature. For 1.8-MeV proton irradiation, the drain saturation current decreases 10.6% and the maximum transconductance decreases 6.1% at a fluence of 10/sup 12/ cm/sup -2/. The greater degradation measured at the lowest proton energy considered here is caused by the much larger nonionizing energy loss of the 1.8-MeV protons.

High energy proton irradiation effects on SiC Schottky rectifiers

4H-SiC Schottky rectifiers with dielectric overlap edge termination were exposed to 40 MeV protons at fluences from 5×107–5×109 cm−2. The reverse breakdown voltage decreased from ∼500 V in unirradiated devices to ∼−450 V after the highest proton dose. The reverse leakage current at −250 V was approximately doubled under these conditions. The forward current at −2 V decreased by ∼1% (fluence of 5×107 cm−2) to ∼42% (fluence of 5×109 cm−2), while the current at lower biases was increased due to the introduction of defect centers. The ideality factor, on-state resistance, and forward turn-on voltage showed modest increases for fluences of ⩽5×108 cm−2, but were more strongly affected (increase of 40%–75%) at the highest dose employed.

Proton irradiation of MgO- or Sc2O3 passivated AlGaN/GaN high electron mobility transistors

Abstract AlGaN/GaN high electron mobility transistors with either MgO or Sc 2 O 3 surface passivation were irradiated with 40 MeV protons at a dose of 5×10 9 cm −2 . While both forward and reverse bias current were decreased in the devices as a result of decreases in channel doping and introduction of generation–recombination centers, there was no significant change observed in gate lag measurements. By sharp contrast, unpassivated devices showed significant decreases in drain current under pulsed conditions for the same proton dose. These results show the effectiveness of the oxide passivation in mitigating the effects of surface states present in the as-grown structures and also of surface traps created by the proton irradiation.

Advances in Atmospheric Radiation Measurements and Modeling Needed to Improve Air Safety

Air safety is tied to the phenomenon of ionizing radiation from space weather, primarily from galactic cosmic rays but also from solar energetic particles. A global framework for addressing radiation issues in this environment has been constructed, but more must be done at international and national levels. Health consequences from atmospheric radiation exposure are likely to exist. In addition, severe solar radiation events may cause economic consequences in the international aviation community due to exposure limits being reached by some crew members. Impacts from a radiation environment upon avionics fromhigh-energy particles and low-energy, thermalized neutrons are now recognized as an area of active interest. A broad community recognizes that there are a number of mitigation paths that can be taken relative to the human tissue and avionics exposure risks. These include developing active monitoring and measurement programs as well as improving scientific modeling capabilities that can eventually be turned into operations. A number of roadblocks to risk mitigation still exist, such as effective pilot training programs as well as monitoring, measuring, and regulatorymeasures. An active international effort toward observing theweather of atmospheric radiation must occur to make progress in mitigating radiation exposure risks. Stakeholders in this process include standard-making bodies, scientific organizations, regulatory organizations, air traffic management systems, aircraft owners and operators, pilots and crew, and even the public.

Cosmic Radiation Dose Measurements from the RaD-X Flight Campaign

Abstract The NASA Radiation Dosimetry Experiment (RaD-X) stratospheric balloon flight mission obtained measurements for improving the understanding of cosmic radiation transport in the atmosphere and human exposure to this ionizing radiation field in the aircraft environment. The value of dosimetric measurements from the balloon platform is that they can be used to characterize cosmic ray primaries, the ultimate source of aviation radiation exposure. In addition, radiation detectors were flown to assess their potential application to long-term, continuous monitoring of the aircraft radiation environment. The RaD-X balloon was successfully launched from Fort Sumner, New Mexico (34.5°N, 104.2°W) on 25 September 2015. Over 18 hours of flight data were obtained from each of the four different science instruments at altitudes above 20 km. The RaD-X balloon flight was supplemented by contemporaneous aircraft measurements. Flight-averaged dosimetric quantities are reported at seven altitudes to provide benchmark measurements for improving aviation radiation models. The altitude range of the flight data extends from commercial aircraft altitudes to above the Pfotzer maximum where the dosimetric quantities are influenced by cosmic ray primaries. The RaD-X balloon flight observed an absence of the Pfotzer maximum in the measurements of dose equivalent rate.

Proton radiation hardness of single-nanowire transistors using robust organic gate nanodielectrics

In this contribution, the radiation tolerance of single ZnO nanowire field-effect transistors (NW-FETs) fabricated with a self-assembled superlattice (SAS) gate insulator is investigated and compared with that of ZnO NW-FETs fabricated with a 60nm SiO2 gate insulator. A total-radiation dose study was performed using 10MeV protons at doses of 5.71 and 285krad(Si). The threshold voltage (Vth) of the SAS-based ZnO NW-FETs is not shifted significantly following irradiation at these doses. In contrast, Vth parameters of the SiO2-based ZnO NW-FETs display average shifts of ∼−4.0 and ∼−10.9V for 5.71 and 285krad(Si) H+ irradiation, respectively. In addition, little change is observed in the subthreshold characteristics (off current, subthreshold slope) of the SAS-based ZnO NW-FETs following H+ irradiation. These results strongly argue that the bulk oxide trap density and interface trap density formed within the SAS and/or at the SAS-ZnO NW interface during H+ irradiation are significantly lower than those for th...

Alterations in dose and lineal energy spectra under different shieldings in the Los Alamos high-energy neutron field

Abstract Badhwar, G. D., Huff, H. and Wilkins, R. Alterations in Dose and Lineal Energy Spectra under Different Shieldings in the Los Alamos High-Energy Neutron Field. Nuclear interactions of space radiation with shielding materials result in alterations in dose and lineal energy spectra that depend on the specific elemental composition, density and thickness of the material. The shielding characteristics of materials have been studied using charged-particle beams and radiation transport models by examining the risk reduction using the conventional dose-equivalent approach. Secondary neutrons contribute a significant fraction of the total radiation exposure in space. An experiment to study the changes in dose and lineal energy spectra by shielding materials was carried out at the Los Alamos Nuclear Science Center neutron facility. In the energy range of about 2 to 200 MeV, this neutron spectrum is similar in shape within a factor of about 2 to the spectrum expected in the International Space Station habitable modules. It is shown that with a shielding thickness of about 5 g cm−2, the conventional radiation risk increases, in some cases by as much as a factor of 2, but decreases with thicknesses of about of 20 g cm−2. This suggests that care must be taken in evaluating the shielding effectiveness of a given material by including both the charged-particle and neutron components of space radiation.

Biological Effects of High-Energy Neutrons Measured In Vivo Using a Vertebrate Model

Abstract Interaction of solar protons and galactic cosmic radiation with the atmosphere and other materials produces high-energy secondary neutrons from below 1 to 1000 MeV and higher. Although secondary neutrons may provide an appreciable component of the radiation dose equivalent received by space and high-altitude air travelers, the biological effects remain poorly defined, particularly in vivo in intact organisms. Here we describe the acute response of Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes) embryos to a beam of high-energy spallation neutrons that mimics the energy spectrum of secondary neutrons encountered aboard spacecraft and high-altitude aircraft. To determine RBE, embryos were exposed to 0–0.5 Gy of high-energy neutron radiation or 0–15 Gy of reference γ radiation. The radiation response was measured by imaging apoptotic cells in situ in defined volumes of the embryo, an assay that provides a quantifiable, linear dose response. The slope of the dose response in the developing head, relative to reference γ radiation, indicates an RBE of 24.9 (95% CI 13.6–40.7). A higher RBE of 48.1 (95% CI 30.0–66.4) was obtained based on overall survival. A separate analysis of apoptosis in muscle showed an overall nonlinear response, with the greatest effects at doses of less than 0.3 Gy. Results of this experiment indicate that medaka are a useful model for investigating biological damage associated with high-energy neutron exposure.

Chemical ordering in ilmenite-hematite bulk ceramics through proton irradiation

We demonstrated the capability of MeV proton irradiation to promote chemical ordering processes in a solid at low temperature. We used the ilmenite–hematite solid solution system which allows estimation of the degree of ordering through measurement of its magnetization. Normally, ordering through diffusion would require high temperature annealing. At high temperatures, however, the equilibrium state would be less ordered and thus the achievable ordering incomplete. High energetic protons continuously transfer energy to the sample through electronic interaction which locally deposits large quantities of energy without a general increase of the sample temperature. This promotes diffusion processes which allow the system to relax towards the ordered equilibrium state.