Radiation-hardened power devices

Nuclear power systems, military systems, and space systems are all dependent on radiation-hardened electronic devices. The hardening of the semiconductor devices and circuits developed for the digital and linear requirements of these systems has received a great deal of attention and considerable progress has been made. However, one of the most difficult problems for hardened electronic systems is the development of hardened power semiconductor devices. This paper presents a summary of the effects of radiation exposure on power semiconductor devices, including illustrative experimental data, and considers the prospects for the development of state-of-the-art radiation-hardened power semiconductor devices.