Effects of target fragmentation on evaluation of LET spectra from space radiation in low-earth orbit (LEO) environment: Impact on SEU prediction
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Hampton, VA (United States). Langley Research Center
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Houston, TX (United States). Johnson Space Center
- Christopher Newport Univ., Newport News, VA (United States)
Recent improvements in the radiation transport code HZETRN/BRYNTRN and galactic cosmic ray environmental model have provided an opportunity to investigate the effects of target fragmentation on estimates of single event upset (SEEU) rates for spacecraft memory devices. Since target fragments are mostly of very low energy, an SEU prediction model has been derived in terms of particle energy rather than linear energy transfer (LET) to account for nonlinear relationship between range and energy. Predictions are made for SEU rates observed on two Shuttle flights, each at low and high inclination orbit. Corrections due to track structure effects are made for both high energy ions with track structure larger than device sensitive volume and for low energy ions with dense track where charge recombination is important. Results indicate contributions from target fragments are relatively important at large shield depths (or any thick structure material) and at low inclination orbit. Consequently, a more consistent set of predictions for upset rates observed in these two flights is reached when compared to an earlier analysis with CREME model. It is also observed that the errors produced by assuming linear relationship in range and energy in the earlier analysis have fortuitously canceled out the errors for not considering target fragmentation and track structure effects.
- OSTI ID:
- 203727
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-950716-; ISSN 0018-9499; TRN: 96:009692
- Journal Information:
- IEEE Transactions on Nuclear Science, Vol. 42, Issue 6Pt1; Conference: 32. annual IEEE international nuclear and space radiation effects conference, Madison, WI (United States), 17-21 Jul 1995; Other Information: PBD: Dec 1995
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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