1.1This practice sets forth requirements to ensure consistency in neutron-induced displacement damage testing of silicon and gallium arsenide electronic piece parts. This requires controls on facility, dosimetry, tester, and communications processes that affect the accuracy and reproducibility of these tests. It provides background information on the technical basis for the requirements and additional recommendations on neutron testing.

1.2Methods are presented for ensuring and validating consistency in neutron displacement damage testing of electronic parts such as integrated circuits, transistors, and diodes. The issues identified and the controls set forth in this practice address the characterization and suitability of the radiation environments. They generally apply to reactor sources, accelerator-based neutron sources, such as 14-MeV DT sources, and ²⁵²Cf sources. Facility and environment characteristics that introduce complications or problems are identified, and recommendations are offered to recognize, minimize or eliminate these problems. This practice may be used by facility users, test personnel, facility operators, and independent process validators to determine the suitability of a specific environment within a facility and of the testing process as a whole. Electrical measurements are addressed in other standards, such as Guide F980. Additional information on conducting irradiations can be found in Practices E798 and F1190. This practice also may be of use to test sponsors (organizations that establish test specifications or otherwise have a vested interest in the performance of electronics in neutron environments).

1.3Methods for the evaluation and control of undesired contributions to damage are discussed in this practice. References to relevant ASTM standards and technical reports are provided. Processes and methods used to arrive at the appropriate test environments and specification levels for electronics systems are beyond the scope of this practice; however, the process for determining the 1-MeV equivalent displacement specifications from operational environment neutron spectra should employ the methods and parameters described herein. Some important considerations and recommendations are addressed in Appendix X1 (Nonmandatory information).

1.4The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.

1.5This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.