Mission

The mission of the Institute for Space and Defense Electronics (ISDE) is to contribute to the design and analysis of radiation-hardened electronics, the development of test methods and plans for assuring radiation hardness, and the development of solutions to system-specific problems related to radiation effects. ISDE was launched with initial support from the U.S. Navy Strategic Systems Program and C.S. Draper Labs. In addition, ISDE currently supports the Defense Threat Reduction Agency, Arnold Engineering Development Center, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, Boeing/Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, Naval Research Laboratory, Air Force Office of Scientific Research, Department of Energy, BAE Systems, and Cisco Systems. Expertise includes, but is not limited to, Intersil, Honeywell and IBM/GF processes.

Capabilities

The engineering staff of ISDE performs design, analysis and modeling work for a varietyof space- and defense-oriented organizations. ISDE engineers help to identify radiation-related issues at the device and circuit levels, propose design solutions, and implement test plans. ISDE has an array of software tools for simulating radiation effects and designing integrated circuits, a high performance parallel computing cluster, several types of radiation sources, and extensive electrical characterization capability.

A current sampling of Programs include:

• Design and test of radiation-tolerant integrated circuits and semi conductor devices
• Development and application of simulation tools for analyzing the effects of radiation on integrated circuits and semiconductor devices
• Test methods and plans for predicting the survival of electronics in radiation environments
• Basic physical mechanisms of radiation damage in semiconductor devices and materials

Design Support

ISDE has experience in the design of radiation-hardened electronics from the device to the circuit level.

• Rad-aware compact modeling: ICʼs & discretes
• Process modeling with radiation effects
• Test chip design
• RHBD systems design & training
• Software tool development & automation

Test Capabilities

ISDE has an extensive suite of test and characterization equipment for radiation-effects analysis, including an ARACOR 10-keV x-ray irradiator, two Cs-137 isotopic irradiators and 2-MeV proton source. ISDE team members have extensive experience conducting single-event tests at facilities including Brookhaven National Laboratory, Michigan State University, Texas A&M, Berkeley Laboratory and Indiana University. An array of test equipment is available to facilitate the characterization of irradiated devices and ICs. Vanderbilt also has in place a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with NAVSEA-Crane that provides access to a suite of radiation sources and fully equipped parts analysis laboratory.

On site:

• ARACOR 10-keV X-ray irradiator
• Two CS-137 isotopic irradiators
• Up to 4-MeV proton source
• 6 MeV alpha source
• 14.3 MeV oxygen source
• Laser Testing
• Cold Temperature Dewar
• Probe Stations
• Full compliment of characterization equipment

Off site experience:

• Brookhaven National Laboratory Tandem Van de Graaff
• Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory 88” Cyclotron
• Michigan State University National Superconducting Cyclotron
• Indiana University Cyclotron Facility
• Tri-University Meson Factory (TRIUMF)
• Crane Linear Accelerator Facility
• Sandia National Laboratories Microbeam Facility
• CRADA (Cooperative Research and Development Agreement) agreement
• NAVSEA-Crane suite of radiation sources and FA laboratory

Facilities

The ISDE facilities in Nashville, Tennessee, offer the best of both worlds from an independent contractor and academic environment perspective. The facility is located off of the Vanderbilt University campus and provides a professional office environment conducive to engineering and project management activities. However, the Institute has full access to the University’s laboratories and meeting facilities located on campus just a short walk away. The ISDE office is a secure, limited access facility allowing only approved personnel to enter without an ISDE employee escort. We are a short, 20-minute drive from the airport via interstate and have many hotels and restaurants within easy walking distance.