Effects of Radiation on ICs


Hydration Packs for Hiking, Biking, Backpacking



Edited by David Barth, 7 December 2008

from page 76 of the September 29, 2008 issue of Aviation Week & Space Technology, by David Hughes.

The effects of Radiation on ICs at the time of this writing are as follows:



The electrical charge from natural radiation or that which is associated with an EMP can cause parameters in devices to shift (e.g. a nominal level of electrical charge), leading to component failures. In addition, electrical charges can result in “bit-flip,” where a memory element changes states from a logical 0 to a logical 1, or vice-versa, resulting in erroneous data or logic.