CONFERENCES

2001 IEEE NUCLEAR AND SPACE
RADIATION EFFECTS CONFERENCE

Vancouver, B.C., Canada
July 16-20, 2001
Westin Bayshore Resort & Marina

The 38th annual IEEE Nuclear and Space Radiation Effects Conference (NSREC) will be held at the award-winning Westin Bayshore Resort & Marina in Vancouver, B.C., Canada. You are cordially invited to attend and participate in this annual technical gathering of radiation effects specialists. The conference has evolved into one of the most prominent international symposia on radiation effects in electronic materials, devices, and circuits. The technical program will consist of 10 sessions of contributed papers, three invited talks (tentative), and a poster session. In addition, this conference features a highly recognized Short Course, Radiation Effects Data Workshop, and Industrial Exhibit.

The conference is sponsored by the IEEE/Nuclear and Plasma Science Society Radiation Effects Committee and supported by the Defense Threat Reduction Agency, Sandia National Laboratories, Air Force Research Laboratory, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and NASA Goddard.

TECHNICAL PROGRAM

Janet Barth of NASA Goddard, the 2001 NSREC Technical Program Chairman, with the support of the technical committee, is assembling an outstanding technical program. The Session Chairs for 2001 include both highly experienced members of our community, as well as those who are newcomers to NSREC leadership.

The technical committee will meet in March 2001 for final paper selection. The papers and posters will present the very latest information on radiation effects.  Given the success of computer aided oral presentations at NSREC 2000, the 2001 conference will also encourage computer aided oral presentations and the conference committee is working hard to assure high-quality computer presentation facilities in Vancouver.

Although the deadline for submitting summaries has passed (March 2, 2001), a few late-news papers will be accepted and will be presented in the poster session. The deadline for submission of late-news papers is June 1, 2001. Please submit late-news summaries, using the 4-page summary and 35-word abstract format, to Janet Barth. Additional information on submission of late-news summaries can be found at http://www.nsrec.com.

Technical Committee

Space and Terrestrial Environments
Stuart Huston, Boeing

Photonic Devices and Integrated Circuits
Joe Peden, SAIC

Isolation Technologies
Ronald Smeltzer, Sarnoff Corporation

Single Event Effects, Mechanisms and Modeling
Dale McMorrow, Naval Research Laboratory

Single Event Effects, Devices and Integrated Circuits
Gary Lum, Lockheed Martin Space Systems

Basic Mechanisms
Dan Fleetwood, Vanderbilt University

Devices and Integrated Circuits
Ray Ladbury, Orbital Sciences Corporation
& Eric Heijne, CERN

Commercial Space Systems
Kay Jobe, Boeing Satellite Systems

Hardness Assurance
Tom Turflinger, NAVSEA Crane

Dosimetry and Facilities
Laurent Dusseau, University Montpellier

Poster Session
Jim Schwank, Sandia National Laboratories

Data Workshop
Nick van Vonno, Intersil Corporation

INVITED SPEAKERS

The 2001 NSREC is pleased to feature an invited presentation by Cary Wolinsky a National Geographic photographer with over 30 years of experience. Cary will give a fascinating talk about the anatomy of a National Geographic Story including photos from Australia and space.  His most recent articles can be seen in the July 2000 and January 2001 issues. This will truly be a unique opportunity to see what it takes to publish a story in National Geographic magazine and will be of interest to all NSREC attendees and their companions.

John Kappenman of METATAK will talk on solar storm effects on power grid systems and aircraft. Space Weather conditions capable of threatening power system reliability can evolve rapidly. Large Ionospheric (electrojet) currents create magnetic field disturbances, which can move from eastern Canada to Alaska in less than 8 minutes, a velocity exceeding 1000 km/min.  Without better-forecast warnings, sudden and violent storm events provide essentially no time for meaningful human intervention.  John will show simulations of ground-induced currents and talk about his work with companies to prevent the large power outages that occurred during the last solar maximum.

Alan Shotter, the new director at Canada’s TRIUMPF Laboratory for Nuclear and Particle Physics, has tentatively agreed to give a stimulating technical presentation on the origin of elements. Alan is the top researcher in Europe in the field of nuclear physics using accelerated beams of exotic ions. He has served as the head of the physics and astronomy department at the University of Edinburgh.

RADIATION EFFECTS DATA WORKSHOP

This conference will include a workshop for papers on radiation effects data for electronic devices and systems. These papers are intended to provide radiation response data to scientists and engineers who use electronic devices in a radiation environment. Further, it is intended to be of interest to designers of radiation-hardened systems. These papers will be presented in a separate workshop session (using poster paper format). All conference registrants will be mailed a copy of the Workshop Proceedings (an archival IEEE publication).

SHORT COURSE

Attendees will have the opportunity to participate in a one-day Short Course on Monday, July 16. A Short Course is offered each year and is intended to provide newcomers with an overview and in-depth study of timely and significant issues in the radiation effects field and for updating and refreshing the knowledge of experienced workers.  The theme of the 2001 NSREC Short Course is Radiation Effects in Advanced Microelectronics: Issues for SOI, Bipolar, and CMOS Technologies.

The Short Course will start with a morning devoted to silicon-on-insulator (SOI) technology. This important technology is finally starting to emerge in the commercial marketplace, with SOI microprocessors shipping today in high-end workstations, and SOI technology expected to be widely used in the near future. This exciting technology also has some unique advantages for operation in radiation environments. In the afternoon we will focus on radiation effects issues relevant to advanced bipolar and CMOS technologies. Enhanced radiation damage in low dose rate environments is one of the most active areas of research today for bipolar technologies, while the increased operating speeds of CMOS technologies may bring new radiation-induced failure modes.

Paul Dodd of Sandia National Laboratories, the 2001 NSREC Short Course Chairman, has assembled a highly-qualified team of instructors to address radiation effects in advanced microelectronics.

Prof. Jean-Pierre Colinge of University of California at Davis will present the segment on Silicon-on-Insulator Technology: Overview and Device Physics. Prof. Colinge is a recognized expert in the field of SOI technology and will cover the basics of SOI transistor design, device physics, and substrate types to bring us all up to speed on what “makes SOI tick.” He will also cover the unique performance and power advantages that are making SOI an attractive choice for advanced commercial technologies.

Dr. Olivier Musseau and Dr. Veronique Ferlet-Cavrois of CEA-DAM will present the segment on Silicon-on-Insulator Technology: Radiation Effects. With a solid background on SOI operation in normal environments behind us, Dr. Musseau and Dr. Ferlet-Cavrois will cover the specifics of radiation effects in SOI devices and circuits. This section of the course will include SOI performance from a perspective of both total dose and single-event effects, and how technology choices made by manufacturers of SOI integrated circuits (e.g., body-tied vs. floating body designs) may affect radiation hardness.

Prof. Ron Schrimpf of Vanderbilt University will present the segment on Physics and Hardness Assurance for Bipolar Technologies. Prof. Schrimpf will discuss radiation effects and hardness assurance issues for advanced bipolar technologies.  This has been a topic of a great deal of recent interest following the discovery of enhanced total-dose degradation in low dose rate environments. Methods of hardness assurance and the physical mechanisms on which they are based will be presented.

Dr. Steve Buchner of SFA/NRL and Mr. Mark Baze of Boeing will co-present the final segment on Single-Event Transients and Measurement Techniques. Dr. Buchner and Mr. Baze will bring us up to speed on the topic of single-event transients in high-speed circuits. Single-event transients (SETs) are expected to become a serious concern with increasing clock speeds in advanced commercial technologies. Topics of discussion will include measurement techniques for studying SET, and circuit design methodologies for preventing their propagation.

For those interested in Continuing Education Units (CEUs), there will be an open-book test at the end of the course. The course is valued at 0.6 CEUs and endorsed by the IEEE and the International Association for Education and Training (IACET).

INDUSTRIAL EXHIBIT

This year’s Industrial Exhibit will feature the leading suppliers of radiation hardened products, related materials, and services. The Industrial Exhibit permits one-on-one discussions between exhibitors and conference attendees on the latest in radiation-hardened electronic devices, radiation analysis and test services, and radiation test facilities and test equipment.  If you would like to participate in the exhibit, or need more information on the exhibit, please visit http://www.nsrec.com  or contact Darrell Craig, the 2001 NSREC Industrial Exhibits Chairman.

VANCOUVER

Vancouver is situated amidst a magnificent natural harbor and the scenery is dominated by the North Shore Mountains. Vancouver offers many local recreational and cultural attractions including: Gastown, the oldest part of Vancouver where Victorian street lamps line the red cobblestone streets, Granville Island, which is an eclectic mixture of shopping, theatre and restaurants surrounded by False Creek, the third largest China Town in North America, and Stanley Park, a thousand acres of parklands and forest.

Vancouver enjoys mild temperatures year round. The average daytime high in July is in the mid 70’s F with an average 24 days without precipitation.

SOCIAL PROGRAM

The IEEE NSREC has traditionally included social activities to create opportunities for attendees to get acquainted and share their experiences in radiation effects. The 2001 conference will continue this tradition. The social highlight of the conference will be a cruise along English Bay. Companion’s and youth programs are also being planned during the daily technical programs to enable a sampling of activities and sites available in Vancouver. Family and friends are invited.

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

All amounts are in US dollars. The deadline for early registration is June 15, 2001.

You can (and should) preregister NOW.  You may preregister for the 2001 NSREC on line at www.nsrec.com. Additional information associated with registration for the conference can also be found on the website.

THE WESTIN BAYSHORE RESORT & MARINA

The conference will be held at the award-winning Westin Bayshore Resort & Marina that has 517 rooms and over 48,000 square feet of meeting and convention space. The hotel offers expansive views of the mountains, harbor, and city skyline. The hotel is located only a few steps from the seawall, that serves as a scenic walkway to Stanley Park and the Vancouver Convention and Exhibition Center.

Please do not delay, make your reservations today.  To make reservations contact The Westin Bayshore Resort & Marina directly at (604) 682-3377.  You must indicate that you are with the “IEEE NSREC” to receive the conference rate. The conference rate (before taxes) is $240 CND for single/double.  Additional information can be found at http://www.nsrec.com.

Conference Committee

General Chair: Marty R. Shaneyfelt, Sandia National Laboratories, 505-844-6137

Technical Program: Janet L. Barth, NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center, 301-286-8046

Local Arrangements: Joseph M. Benedetto, Aeroflex UTMC, 719-594-8415

Short Course: Paul E. Dodd, Sandia National Laboratories, 505-844-1447

Publicity: Teresa Farris, Aeroflex UTMC, 719-594-8035

Finance: Mark A. Hopkins, The Aerospace Corporation, 505-846-7228

Awards: Timothy R. Oldham, US Army Research Laboratory, 301-394-5429

Industrial Exhibits: Darrell Craig, Peregrine Semiconductor, 321-773-3701

Guest Editor: Michael A. Xapsos, Naval Research Lab, 202-767-5467

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