Proton Irradiation Facility Home Page (PIF)

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Proton Irradiation Facility at Laboratory For Particle Physics

Operation/Beam Time

Contact Information

Beam Order

Proton Tests

Electron Tests

Some Essentials

Useful Links

Annual Reports

Updated:
23.03.2005

Welcome to the Proton Irradiation Facility PIF

Introduction

Under the contract between European Space Agency (ESA) and
the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI) the Proton Irradiation Facility (PIF)
was constructed for testing of spacecraft components.
The facility is designed in a user friendly manner and is commonly
available. It enables generating of realistic proton spectra encountered
at any potential orbit in space. PIF is a member of the ESA supported
European Component Irradiation Facilities (ECIF)

Space Radiation - Demand for ground tests

The proton environment in space can have a detrimental effect on semiconductor
components and other materials used in spacecraft. The ability to simulate this
environment on earth enables projects to take this hazard into consideration in
the design stage. Depending on the spacecraft orbit and duration the spectra will
differ and one of the principal advantages of the PIF is its ability to reproduce them.
The PIF has been originally implemented to investigate:

· Radiation hardness of the new electronic products

· Single Event Upsets (SEU) and Latch-ups (SEL) of electronic components

· Properties of radiation monitors for space and laboratory applications

· Basic mechanics of radiation effects in semiconductors

· Space radiation environment by on-earth simulations

User Lab Leading Features

The facility allows conducting research on radiation induced effects in electronics
and devices. It not only enables experiments with realistic space proton environment but
also provides mono-energetic beams for radiation hardness tests of materials.
PIF is used extensively by the space community as well as by research teams
in other disciplines. Our long-term experience with industries and space agencies
provides extra benefits in field of applied science and technology. Several experiments in
physics as well as testing and calibrating of modern particle detectors and radiation monitors
have been already performed. A wide range of applications is feasible due to elementary
design aspects assuring:

1. Broad range of energies and intensities of the proton beam

2. Experiment adaptable monitoring of flux and dose

3. Fast and uncomplicated experimental setup

4. Transparent operating procedure

5. User friendly data acquisition system

6. Flexibility towards customers needs

Operation - Irradiation Experiments

As a prime user the PIF is available for irradiation experiments connected with ESA
space programs. Other tests are performed for accelerator community such as CENR and
related users. The facility is also commonly available for other applied research
conducted by external laboratories, universities and industry. These irradiations are
performed in parasitic mode with other experiments. Because day shifts are reserved
for biomedical applications, the irradiations are performed mostly during weekends and at short
night shifts.

Short-duration experiments require only an irradiation request and order. Longer ones
need an approval by the Cyclotron Research Committee and PSI Technology Transfer Office.
The PSI beam and test area availability for the next period can be found in the PIF-calendar.
In addition, the PSI beam production schedule for the next 6 months period can be
found at Accelerator Physics and Development Division beam production page.
The schedule for the next week is also available. Please look also at Proton-Therapie and
PROSCAN part of the program.

The Electron Monochromator beamtime can be requested directly at the PIF Group.

Contact Information

Project Manager/Experiment

Administration

Shipment / DUT Status

Dr. Wojtek Hajdas
OBBA/010

Paul Scherrer Institute

CH-5232 Villigen PSI

Switzerland

       Tel.: +41 (0)56 310 4212
       Fax: +41 (0)56 310 2646
       Email: Wojtek Hajdas

  Mrs. Anita Govaerts Van Loon
  WMFA/C12
  Paul Scherrer Institute
  CH-5232 Villigen PSI
  Switzerland

  Tel.: +41 (0)56 310 3254
  Fax: +41 (0)56 310 3120
  Email: Anita Van Loon

    Ken Egli
    OBBA/009
    Paul Scherrer Institute
    CH-5232 Villigen PSI
    Switzerland

    Tel.: +41 (0)56 310 3400
     Fax: +41 (0)56 310 2646
     Email: Ken Egli

Useful links

European Space Agency Technology Centre ESA-ESTEC

ESA Radiation Effects and Component Analysis Techniques Section

The European Space Components Information Exchange System

Heavy Ion Facility HIF at the Université Catholique de Louvain Belgium (ECIF member)

Radiation Effects Facility RADEF at the University of Jyväskylä Finland (ECIF member)

ESTEC Co-60 Facility ECF (ECIF member)

ESTEC Californium-252 Assessment of Single-event Effects CASE (ECIF member)

Irradiation facility at CERN - Switzerland (STC, IRRAD1 - very high energy p, n)

Indiana University Cyclotron Facility (RERP - proton)

Brookhaven National Laboratory SEUTF (BNL - heavy ion)

Lawrence Berkeley Labs 88" Cyclotron (LBL - heavy ion)

Texas A & M University Cyclotron (TAMU - heavy ion)

Michigan State University Cyclotron Laboratory (MSU - heavy ion and proton)

University of California at Davis Crocker Nuclear Lab (UCD - proton)

Proton Irradiation Facility - Canada (TRIUMF - proton)

NASA/GSFC Radiation Effects & Analysis