Managing age-related changes in device radiation-response.

Conference · Wed Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 2008

OSTI ID:966256

Horn, Kevin Michael

Aging effects in silicon electronics are a concern for systems with prolonged service lives that contain electronics not easily accessible for testing and replacement. Such effects are especially difficult to assess for components that must be exposed to, and function in, transient radiation environments. A methodology has been developed that utilizes electrical parametric and non-destructive laser testing techniques, charge collection microscopy, and controlled-environment storage to permit periodic reassessment of the state of health of such electronics. The use of a scanned, focused laser, charge collection microscopy technique, developed to detect the onset of change and then track these changes in charge collection efficiency with micron resolution, will be described. These results are then used to direct subsequent failure analyses using high-sensitivity, high spatial resolution materials analysis techniques, (such as Time-of-Flight SIMS), in order to identify the underlying material driver of the aging. It will be shown how the results of this methodology are used to create finite-element, charge transport, device models of age-affected devices, and how the time-dependence of the underlying material change is incorporated into the device aging model, so as to predict the future rate, and end-state, of the identified device aging process. Lastly the model is validated using wavelength-dependent charge collection microscopy measurements of the device's response.

• Research Organization: Sandia National Laboratories
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: AC04-94AL85000
• OSTI ID: 966256
• Report Number(s): SAND2008-6707C
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
AGING
CHARGE COLLECTION
CHARGE TRANSPORT
EFFICIENCY
EQUIPMENT
FAILURES
ION MICROPROBE ANALYSIS
LASERS
MASS SPECTROSCOPY
MICROSCOPY
PARTICLE TRACKS
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIATIONS
RESOLUTION
SILICON
SIMULATION
SPATIAL RESOLUTION
STORAGE
TESTING
TIME DEPENDENCE