Development and experimental study of the neutron beam at the synchrocyclotron of the Petersburg Nuclear Physics Institute for radiation tests of electronic components

A neutron beam with an energy spectrum resembling that of atmospheric neutron radiation has been developed at the 1000-MeV synchrocyclotron of the Petersburg Nuclear Physics Institute. The beam is intended for testing the radiation resistance of electronics and meets the requirements of the JEDEC international standard. The only test facility in which the neutron spectrum is close to the standard in the energy range of 0.1–750 MeV has been developed at the Los Alamos National Laboratory on the basis the LAMPF linear proton accelerator and used by aviation and space companies of the United States, Europe, and Asia to test their electronic equipment. In contrast to the test facilities in Los Alamos and Uppsala (Sweden), the method of neutron production on an internal accelerator target is used by the Petersburg Nuclear Physics Institute. The development of the neutron beam and the test facility extends considerably the experimental potential of radiation research and can act as a basis for establishing a unique center for radiation tests of aviation and space electronic equipment in compliance with the requirements of international standards.