Influence of Elastic Scattering on the Neutron-Induced Single-Event Upsets in a Static Random Access Memory

Neutron single-event upsets (SEUs) induced by elastic scattering were investigated by an experiment using 2 MeV neutron beams and by a calculation based on scattering cross-section data and angular distribution data from the evaluated nuclear data file (ENDF). The SEU rates obtained by the calculation and experiment are in fairly good agreement if the region sensitive to the SEUs (sensitive volume) is properly defined. Adopting the calculation to atmospheric neutrons, the fraction of the SEU rates induced by elastic scattering accounted for approximately 26 to 32% of the total fast-neutron-induced SEUs in the atmospheric neutron environment. Reducing well depth will effectively reduce the number of SEUs.