Overview
IEC 62396-2:2017 - "Process management for avionics - Atmospheric radiation effects - Part 2" provides practical guidance for single event effects (SEE) testing of electronic components and boards exposed to atmospheric neutrons (neutrons from cosmic-ray interactions). Developed for the avionics industry, the standard explains how to obtain or generate SEE data, select appropriate radiation sources and test facilities, and convert accelerated-test results into avionics SEE rates applicable at aircraft altitudes. Although focused on avionics, the guidance is applicable to other safety‑critical sectors that require neutron-induced SEE assessment.
Key topics and technical guidance
- Types of SEE data: discusses existing data (heavy-ion, high‑energy neutron/proton, thermal neutron) and when to reuse published or proprietary SEE results.
- Deciding on dedicated testing: criteria for when new accelerated tests are necessary versus use of existing measurements.
- Test methods and radiation sources: overview of accelerated test options including spallation neutron sources, monoenergetic / quasi-monoenergetic beams, and thermal neutron facilities. The document references modern facility examples (e.g., TSL, TRIUMF, ChipIr).
- Selection of hardware and facilities: guidance on choosing representative devices, boards and whole-system testing approaches.
- Converting test results to avionics SEE rates: procedures for using measured cross-sections (e.g., SEU cross-section vs. energy, Weibull fits) and spectral weighting to estimate in-flight SEE rates.
- Data variability and traceability: discussion on variability between sources and the importance of documented assumptions, measurement conditions and uncertainty.
- Links to related test practices: updates include connections to IEC 60749-38 and IEC 60749-44 where relevant.
Practical applications and who should use it
IEC 62396-2 is intended for:
- Avionics systems designers and integrators assessing radiation robustness.
- Electronic component and board manufacturers performing SEE qualification or characterization.
- Test laboratories and radiation facilities establishing SEE test plans and reporting practices.
- Reliability and safety engineers converting lab results into operational failure rates (SEU, MCU, latchup) for airborne systems.
- Other industries (e.g., high-altitude platforms, data centers at altitude) needing atmospheric neutron SEE guidance.
Using IEC 62396-2 helps organizations produce defensible, consistent SEE test plans and convert accelerated test outcomes into actionable in‑flight failure-rate estimates.
Related standards
- IEC 62396-1:2016 - Accommodation of atmospheric radiation effects via SEE within avionics equipment (companion guidance).
- IEC 60749-38, IEC 60749-44 - referenced for links to component-level radiation test practices.
Keywords: IEC 62396-2, single event effects, SEE testing, atmospheric neutrons, avionics, spallation neutron, SEU rates, neutron beam facilities, reliability.
Open preview (PDF)Process management for avionics - Atmospheric radiation effects - Part 2: Guidelines for single event effects testing for avionics systems
