Laser Simulation of Single Event Upsets

A pulsed picosecond laser was used to produce upsets in both a commercial bipolar logic circuit and a specially designed CMOS SRAM test structure. Comparing the laser energy necessary for producing upsets in transistors that have different upset sensitivities with the single event upset (SEU) level predicted from circuit analysis showed that a picosecond laser could measure circuit sensitivity to SEUs. The technique makes it possible not only to test circuits rapidly for upset sensitivity but also, because the beam can be focussed down to a small spot size, to identify sensitive transistors.