Imagine trying to protect a smartphone from a cosmic storm while it's floating in deep space. Instead of waiting for a satellite to fail in orbit, this project creates a 'space weather simulator' on Earth using giant particle accelerators. It lets engineers blast their hardware with heavy ions to see exactly when and how it breaks, so they can build tougher gear.
Space electronics often fail due to cosmic radiation, but testing them on Earth usually requires damaging the chips (de-lidding) or using unrealistic mono-energetic beams. This makes qualifying high-end AI and Big Data hardware for space slow and risky.
["A hardware demonstrator including monitors, trackers, and a range modulator.", "A software demonstrator for GCR/SPE simulation that calculates beam attenuation based on radiation spectra."]
If you are a satellite manufacturer dealing with unpredictable cosmic radiation damaging onboard computers — this project developed a GCR simulator that mimics space radiation at ground level. This allows you to test electronics at the board and box level without needing to strip away protective casings. It ensures your hardware survives the journey to orbit.
If you are a chip designer dealing with the risk of single-event upsets in AI processors for space — this project developed high-energy ion beam access above 100 MeV/n. This allows you to qualify high-end microelectronics for onboard AI or Big Data processing. You can verify radiation hardness before expensive deployment.
If you are a research lab dealing with the unknown biological effects of galactic cosmic rays on astronauts — this project developed a radiation field simulator at GSI. This provides a way to assess radiobiological impacts using multiple particle species and energies. It helps in designing better biological shielding for long-term missions.
Based on available project data, the specific pricing for users is not listed, but the project received an EU contribution of EUR 3,599,965 to improve capacity.
Yes, the project utilizes two major European labs, CERN and GSI, which are capable of producing heavy ion beams above 100 MeV/n for industrial-grade testing.
The project data does not specify licensing terms, but it mentions the development of a software demonstrator for GCR/SPE simulation.
It allows for testing at the board and box level without the need for device preparation like de-lidding or thinning, speeding up the qualification process.
The project period runs from 2023-01-01 to 2026-12-31, with the GCR simulator at GSI already commissioned in April 2024.
The consortium is heavily weighted toward industrial application, with a 57% industry ratio (4 out of 7 partners), including major aerospace players like Thales Alenia Space and Airbus Defence and Space. This ensures that the technical upgrades at CERN and GSI are driven by actual market requirements for microelectronics qualification and shielding.
Contact the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) regarding VHE ion irradiation access.
Contact us to connect with the HEARTS consortium for radiation testing requirements.
