Radiation Effects on Electronic Systems

This book was originally prepared to serve as a reference book on radiation effects in electronics for electronics engineers at the General Electric Re-Entry Systems Department, who had been confronted with the task of designing space radiation hard electronic equipment. It served its purpose so well that I felt it could perhaps be of benefit to other electronics engi- neers in similar situations. Hence this volume was prepared. It consists of the original text with updating of those subjects which have been most influenced by the rapid expansion of activities in the radiation effects field throughout the country.
The book has been arranged in an order which seems most logical from a user's standpoint. The various kinds of nuclear radiation environments are described first. A terminology section is also included in this first chapter containing terms of which many are new and strange to the electronics engineer. Chapter 2 describes the atomic and nuclear interactions of radiation with matter and typical electronic devices. A large portion of this chapter is devoted to the effects on semicon- ductors, which are widely used by electronics engineers, but unfortunately very sensitive to nuclear radiation. The reader will soon discover that a thorough understanding and knowledge of these basic effect mechanisms will often suggest the design approaches which may be utilized to circumvent a particular radiation problem. Chapter 3 was prepared to make reference material available in the area of shielding. Shielding is often the first approach to overcoming the problems of radiation, and it is important to evaluate it as a design solution.