Doctoral Degrees (Electrical and Electronic Engineering)

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Browsing Doctoral Degrees (Electrical and Electronic Engineering) by Author "Barnard, Arno"

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    Establishing a viable and reliable proton-induced single event effect test methodology and environment at iThemba LABS in South Africa
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2020-12) Barnard, Arno; Steyn, Herman; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Engineering. Dept. of Electrical and Electronic Engineering.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This dissertation details the establishment of a new Single-Event Effect (SEE) testing environment at iThemba LABS (iTL). The research intends to improve access to SEE testing for spacerelated research organisations and industries in developing countries and specifically South Africa. The development and verification of the proton-induced SEE testing of electronic systems facility at iTL, using a novel Beam Loss Monitor (BLM) based dosimetry system, is presented. The facility design and dosimetry system response are simulated and verified through in-beam measurements using 66 MeV and 200 MeV protons. The design is adaptable and successfully applied to two different beam delivery points. The proton beam profiles achieved, using this design, had favourable uniformity with variances of less than 10% over the beam spot and a shadow area of with a maximum intensity of less than 0.34% of the spot intensity. The dual-BLM based dosimetry system provides a fast and accurate way to validate the beam profile before tests, in addition to monitoring the proton flux during te sts. The system produced real-time measurements that closely matched simulated particle distributions. Additionally, the presented user guide aims to assist future SEE research at this facility. Through this research, the first high-energy p roton-beam b ased S EE t esting f acility i n A frica a nd the Southern hemisphere is realised, supporting research into SEEs in electronics and the associated mitigation techniques.