Laser-driven proton sources for efficient radiation testing

Abstract Several fields such as particle physics, space exploration, and high-energy physics, use Commercial Off-The-Shelf (COTS) electronic components in a high-radiation operative environment. These operating conditions can cause significant damage to electronic circuits, affecting their operation...

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Main Authors: Beatrice D’Orsi, Corrado Altomare, Alessandro Ampollini, Maria Denise Astorino, Giulia Bazzano, Elias Catrix, Alessia Cemmi, Andrea Colangeli, Ilaria Di Sarcina, Daniele Salvatore Lazzaro, Ronan Lelièvre, Stefano Loreti, Sylvain Fourmaux, Julien Fuchs, Paolo Nenzi, Guglielmo Pagano, Fabio Panza, Concetta Ronsivalle, Jessica Scifo, Simon Vallières, Patrizio Antici
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-07-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-05682-x
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Summary:Abstract Several fields such as particle physics, space exploration, and high-energy physics, use Commercial Off-The-Shelf (COTS) electronic components in a high-radiation operative environment. These operating conditions can cause significant damage to electronic circuits, affecting their operational features and thus the reliability of the entire facility. Qualifying and characterizing these components against radiation is essential to ensure their proper functioning in harsh conditions. This study investigates the effect of stress-testing electronic components used in high-radiation environments with various types of radiation sources. The components were exposed to gamma rays, laser-driven protons, conventionally accelerated protons, and neutrons, analyzing the devices parameters after different irradiation conditions. The results indicate significant degradation in electrical performance due to radiation-induced defects and significant variations of the effects at same dose delivery. We show that laser-driven proton irradiation achieves equivalent stress-testing with doses two orders of magnitude lower and much quicker than other radiation sources, demonstrating a much higher stress-testing efficiency.
ISSN:2045-2322