On the efficacy of using proton beams for estimating neutron-induced soft error rates

Abstract

This work investigates the feasibility of using high energy proton beams in lieu of, or to complement, broad energy spectrum neutron beams for accelerated testing of the cosmic component of terrestrial soft error rates (SER). Logic and memory devices manufactured in three recent technologies were tested at various proton facilities and their single event upset cross sections compared to soft error rates measured at the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center (LANSCE). Linear energy transfer and soft error simulations were conducted to understand the limits of using proton beam facilities. Both simulation results and experimental data demonstrate that a good correlation between proton cross-section and LANSCE neutron SER can be established for tested devices and technologies.