ASTM E721-94

Standard Guide for Determining Neutron Energy Spectra from Neutron Sensors for Radiation-Hardness Testing of Electronics

SCOPE
1.1 This guide covers procedures for determining the energy-differential fluence spectra of neutrons used in radiation-hardness testing of electronic semiconductor devices. The types of neutron sources specifically covered by this guide are fission or degraded energy fission sources used in either a steady-state or pulse mode.
1.2 This guide provides guidance and criteria that can be applied during the process of choosing the spectrum adjustment methodology that is best suited to the available data and relevant for the environment being investigated.
1.3 This guide is to be used in conjunction with Guide E 720 to characterize neutron spectra.
Note 1—Although Guide E 720 only discusses activation foil sensors, any energy-dependent neutron-responding sensor for which a response function is known may be used (1).
Note 2—For terminology used in this guide, see Terminology E 170.
1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard.
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 09-Aug-2001
• ICS: 83.140.10 - Films and sheets
• Technical Committee: E10 - Nuclear Technology and Applications
• Drafting Committee: E10.07 - Radiation Dosimetry for Radiation Effects on Materials and Devices

Relations

• Replaced By: ASTM E721-01 - Standard Guide for Determining Neutron Energy Spectra from Neutron Sensors for Radiation-Hardness Testing of Electronics
• Effective Date: 10-Aug-2001
• Referred By: ASTM E1854-19 - Standard Practice for Ensuring Test Consistency in Neutron-Induced Displacement Damage of Electronic Parts
• Effective Date: 10-Aug-2001
• Referred By: ASTM F1190-18 - Standard Guide for Neutron Irradiation of Unbiased Electronic Components
• Effective Date: 10-Aug-2001
• Referred By: ASTM E720-23 - Standard Guide for Selection and Use of Neutron Sensors for Determining Neutron Spectra Employed in Radiation-Hardness Testing of Electronics
• Effective Date: 10-Aug-2001
• Referred By: ASTM E1855-20 - Standard Test Method for Use of 2N2222A Silicon Bipolar Transistors as Neutron Spectrum Sensors and Displacement Damage Monitors
• Effective Date: 10-Aug-2001
• Referred By: ASTM E2450-23 - Standard Practice for Application of CaF<inf>2</inf>(Mn) Thermoluminescence Dosimeters in Mixed Neutron-Photon Environments
• Effective Date: 10-Aug-2001
• Referred By: ASTM E722-19 - Standard Practice for Characterizing Neutron Fluence Spectra in Terms of an Equivalent Monoenergetic Neutron Fluence for Radiation-Hardness Testing of Electronics
• Effective Date: 10-Aug-2001
• Referred By: ASTM E265-15(2020) - Standard Test Method for Measuring Reaction Rates and Fast-Neutron Fluences by Radioactivation of Sulfur-32
• Effective Date: 10-Aug-2001
• Referred By: ASTM F980-16 - Standard Guide for Measurement of Rapid Annealing of Neutron-Induced Displacement Damage in Silicon Semiconductor Devices
• Effective Date: 10-Aug-2001

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or discontinued.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information.
Designation: E 721 – 94
Standard Guide for
Determining Neutron Energy Spectra from Neutron Sensors
1
for Radiation-Hardness Testing of Electronics
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E 721; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the Department of Defense.
1. Scope E 262 Test Method for Determining Thermal Neutron Re-
3
action and Fluence Rates by Radioactivation Techniques
1.1 This guide covers procedures for determining the
E 263 Test Method for Measuring Fast–Neutron Reaction
energy-fluence spectra of neutron sources used in radiation-
3
Rates by Radioactivation of Iron
hardness testing of electronic semiconductor devices. The
E 264 Test Method for Determining Fast-Neutron Reaction
types of sources specifically covered by this guide are fission or
3
Rates by Radioactivation of Nickel
degraded energy fission sources used in either a steady-state or
E 265 Test Method for Measuring Reaction Rates and
pulse mode.
3
Fast-Neutron Fluences by Radioactivation of Sulfur-32
1.2 This guide provides guidance and criteria that can be
E 266 Test Method for Determining Fast-Neutron Reaction
applied during the process of choosing the spectrum adjust-
3
Rates by Radioactivation of Aluminum
ment methodology that is best suited to the data that is
E 393 Test Method for Measuring Reaction Rates by Analy-
available and relevant for the environment being investigated.
3
sis of Barium-140 from Fission Dosimeters
For example, the data available from power reactor and
E 704 Test Method for Measuring Reaction Rates by Ra-
research reactor tests are expected to be different, and the most
3
dioactivation of Uranium-238
effective spectrum adjustment methodology may also differ for
E 705 Test Method for Measuring Reaction Rates by Ra-
each case.
3
dioactivation of Neptunium-237
1.3 This guide is to be used in conjunction with Guide E 720
E 720 Guide for Selection and Use of Neutron-Activation
to characterize neutron spectra.
Foils for Determining Neutron Spectra Employed in
NOTE 1—Although Guide E 720 only discusses activation foil sensors, 3
Radiation-Hardness Testing of Electronics
any energy-dependent neutron-responding sensor for which a response
E 722 Practice for Characterizing Neutron Energy Fluence
2
function is known may be used (1).
Spectra in Terms of an Equivalent Monoenergetic Neutron
NOTE 2—For terminology used in this guide, see Terminology E 170.
3
Fluence for Radiation-Hardness Testing of Electronics
1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the
E 844 Guide for Sensor Set Design and Irradiation for
standard. 3
Reactor Surveillance, E706 (IIC)
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the
E 944 Guide for Application of Neutron Spectrum Adjust-
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the 3
ment Methods in Reactor Surveillance, (IIA)
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
E 1297 Test Method for Measuring Fast-Neutron Reaction
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
3
Rates by Radioactivation of Niobium
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
3. Terminology
2. Referenced Documents
3.1 Definitions: The following list defines some of the
2.1 ASTM Standards:
special terms used in this guide:
E 170 Terminology Relating to Radiation Measurements
3.1.1 effect—the characteristic which changes in the sensor
3
and Dosimetry
when it is subjected to the neutron irradiation. The effect may
E 261 Practice for Determining Neutron Fluence Rate, Flu-
be the reactions in an activation foil.
3
ence, and Spectra by Radioactivation Techniques
3.1.2 response—the magnitude of the effect. It can be the
measured value or that calculated by integrating the response
1
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E-10 on Nuclear
function over the neutron fluence spectrum. For activation
Technology and Applications and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
reactions this would be the decay corrected activity. The
E10.07 on Radiation Effects on Electronic Materials, Components, and Devices.
response is an integral parameter. Mathematically, the re-
Current edition approved Sept. 15, 1994. Published November 1994. Originally
published as E 721 – 80. Last previous edition E 721 – 93.
sponse, R5( R , where R is the response in each differential
i i i
2
The boldface numbers in parentheses refer to the list of references at the end of
energy region at E of width DE .
i i
this guide.
3 3.1.3 response function—the set of values of R in each
i
Annual Book of ASTM
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