Measurement and simulation of terrestrial atmospheric neutron spectrum in typical regions of China

Peng Chao; Lei Zhifeng; Zhang Zhangang; Yang Shaohua; Lai Ping; Lu Guoguang

doi:10.11884/HPLPB202335.220353

Volume 35 Issue 5

Apr. 2023

Turn off MathJax

Article Contents

Abstract

References

Article Navigation > High Power Laser and Particle Beams > 2023 > 35(5): 059001

Peng Chao, Lei Zhifeng, Zhang Zhangang, et al. Measurement and simulation of terrestrial atmospheric neutron spectrum in typical regions of China[J]. High Power Laser and Particle Beams, 2023, 35: 059001. doi: 10.11884/HPLPB202335.220353

Citation:

Peng Chao, Lei Zhifeng, Zhang Zhangang, et al. Measurement and simulation of terrestrial atmospheric neutron spectrum in typical regions of China[J]. High Power Laser and Particle Beams, 2023, 35: 059001. doi: 10.11884/HPLPB202335.220353

Citation:

PDF( 3638 KB)

Measurement and simulation of terrestrial atmospheric neutron spectrum in typical regions of China

doi: 10.11884/HPLPB202335.220353

Science and Technology on Reliability Physics and Application of Electronic Component Laboratory, China Electronic Product Reliability and Environmental Testing Research Institute, Guangzhou 511370, China

Received Date: 2022-10-25
Accepted Date: 2023-02-10
Rev Recd Date: 2023-02-10

Available Online: 2023-02-21

Publish Date: 2023-04-07

Abstract

Abstract

Atmospheric neutrons can cause the single event effect (SEE) of integrated circuits, resulting in data loss or functional interrupt. The SEE failure rate caused by atmospheric neutrons depends on its flux, thus obtaining the atmospheric neutron flux is the premise of SEE failure rate assessment. In this paper, the atmospheric neutron energy spectra and fluxes in Guangzhou, Lanzhou and Lhasa are measured using the Bonner sphere spectrometers (BSS). Typical characteristics of atmospheric neutron spectrum are obtained. The measured results show that the atmospheric neutron flux in different areas is affected by the altitude, and the terrestrial atmospheric neutron flux increases with the altitude. In addition, the nuclear reaction process of primary cosmic ray particles in the earth’s atmosphere can also be simulated based on the Monte Carlo simulation tools, so as to calculate the atmospheric neutron spectrum. It shows that the measured data of atmospheric neutron spectra are in good agreement with the simulation data. These data can be used in quantitative evaluation of atmospheric neutron-induced SEE of integrated circuits.
- atmospheric neutron,
- single event effect,
- terrestrial radiation environment,
- energy spectrum measurement

FullText(HTML)

References(18)

References

[1]	Ziegler J F. Terrestrial cosmic rays[J]. IBM Journal of Research and Development, 1996, 40(1): 19-39. doi: 10.1147/rd.401.0019
[2]	Ziegler J F, Lanford W A. Effect of cosmic rays on computer memories[J]. Science, 1979, 206(4420): 776-788. doi: 10.1126/science.206.4420.776
[3]	Nakamura T, Baba M, Ibe E, et al. Terrestrial neutron-induced soft errors in advanced memory devices[M]. Hackensack: World Scientific, 2008.
[4]	Cheminet A, Lacoste V, Hubert G, et al. Experimental measurements of the cosmic-ray induced neutron spectra at various mountain altitudes with HERMEIS[J]. IEEE Transactions on Nuclear Science, 2012, 59(4): 1722-1730. doi: 10.1109/TNS.2012.2201500
[5]	Gordon M S, Goldhagen P, Rodbell K P, et al. Measurement of the flux and energy spectrum of cosmic-ray induced neutrons on the ground[J]. IEEE Transactions on Nuclear Science, 2004, 51(6): 3427-3434. doi: 10.1109/TNS.2004.839134
[6]	吴建华, 徐勇军, 刘森林, 等. 西藏地区天然中子能谱测量[J]. 原子能科学技术, 2014, 48(2):219-222 doi: 10.7538/yzk.2014.48.02.0219 Wu Jianhua, Xu Yongjun, Liu Senlin, et al. Spectrum measurement of natural neutron in Tibet[J]. Atomic Energy Science and Technology, 2014, 48(2): 219-222 doi: 10.7538/yzk.2014.48.02.0219
[7]	Hu Z M, Ge L J, Sun J Q, et al. Measurements of cosmic ray induced background neutrons near the ground using a Bonner sphere spectrometer[J]. Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment, 2019, 940: 78-82.
[8]	Kole M, Pearce M, Salinas M M. A model of the cosmic ray induced atmospheric neutron environment[J]. Astroparticle Physics, 2015, 62: 230-240. doi: 10.1016/j.astropartphys.2014.10.002
[9]	Barth J L, Dyer C S, Stassinopoulos E G. Space, atmospheric, and terrestrial radiation environments[J]. IEEE Transactions on Nuclear Science, 2003, 50(3): 466-482. doi: 10.1109/TNS.2003.813131
[10]	Normand E, Baker T J. Altitude and latitude variations in avionics SEU and atmospheric neutron flux[J]. IEEE Transactions on Nuclear Science, 1993, 40(6): 1484-1490. doi: 10.1109/23.273514
[11]	Fang Yipin, Oates A S. Thermal neutron-induced soft errors in advanced memory and logic devices[J]. IEEE Transactions on Device and Materials Reliability, 2014, 14(1): 583-586. doi: 10.1109/TDMR.2013.2287699
[12]	Wen Shijie, Wong R, Romain M, et al. Thermal neutron soft error rate for SRAMS in the 90nm–45nm technology range[C]//Proceedings of 2010 IEEE International Reliability Physics Symposium. 2010: 1036-1039.
[13]	Sato T. Analytical model for estimating the zenith angle dependence of terrestrial cosmic ray fluxes[J]. PLoS One, 2016, 11: e0160390. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0160390
[14]	Fasso A, Ferrari A, Ranft J, et al. FLUKA: present status and future developments[C]//Proceedings 4th International Conference on Calorimetry in High-energy Physics. 1993: 493-502.
[15]	Infantino A, Blackmore E W, Brugger M, et al. FLUKA Monte Carlo assessment of the terrestrial muon flux at low energies and comparison against experimental measurements[J]. Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment, 2016, 838: 109-116.
[16]	Sato T, Niita K. Analytical functions to predict cosmic-ray neutron spectra in the atmosphere[J]. Radiation Research, 2006, 166(3): 544-555. doi: 10.1667/RR0610.1
[17]	JESD89B, Measurement and reporting of alpha particle and terrestrial cosmic ray induced soft errors in semiconductor devices[S].
[18]	Ziegler J F. Terrestrial cosmic ray intensities[J]. IBM Journal of Research and Development, 1998, 42(1): 117-140. doi: 10.1147/rd.421.0117