A new method for using 252CF in SEU testing

A system using 252Cf and associated nuclear instrumentation has determined the SEU cross section versus LET curve for several 2kx8 SRAMs. The 252Cf fission fragments pass through at thin film organic scintillator detector (TFD) on the way to the device under test (DUT). The TFD provides energy information for each transiting fragment. Data analysis provides the energy of the individual ion responsible for each SEU, thus separate upset cross sections can be developed for different energy and mass regions of the californium spectrum. The authors report on this measurement of separate cross sections for each fission fragment group. This californium-based device is quite small and fits onto a bench top. It provides a convenient and inexpensive supplement or alternative to accelerator and high-altitude/space SEU testing