Space radiation is one of the events that components and systems onboard a satellite or probe must endure. The high-energy particles scattered through space affect the electrical, electronic and electromechanical components of a satellite. The effects these particles produce can range from service disruptions, mission deterioration and loss of data, up to degradation of the sensors on board, subsystem failure, or irreversible failure of the mission.
Some major effects on the internal electronic systems are: performance degradation as a result of energy deposition by the ionization accumulated in the semiconductor materials, atomic displacement damage accumulated in the semiconductor crystal network, and transient effects produced by ionization traces of the interaction of a single cosmic ray or a high-energy proton. Therefore, total exposure to electrons and protons, and the rate of high-energy protons and cosmic rays are of particular interest for the effects on internal electronic systems.
ALTER TECHNOLOGY has extensive experience in the field of radiation, especially in the design and testing of radiation, from total dose to heavy ions. Now adding to this is the new irradiation facility at our headquarters in Seville. The new radiation laboratory, RADLAB, has been developed by a consortium formed by ALTER TECHNOLOGY and the CNA (Centro Nacional de Aceleradores), with the collaboration of the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness within the 2008-2011 National Plan for Scientific Research, Development and Technological Innovation, Subprogram INNPACTO. Identification number IPT-2011-1603-370000.
RADLAB combines the most versatile irradiator with the most active Cobalt-60 source, making it a unique source, not only in Andalusia and Spain, but also in Europe.
Thanks to its flexibility and availability for testing, this laboratory offers many technical and economic advantages to our customers.