Development of particle identification and energy measurement system for slow cosmic ray muons for the evaluation of muon-induced soft error rate

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K14564
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 31010:Nuclear engineering-related
• Research Institution: Kyushu University
• Principal Investigator: Kawase Shoichiro 九州大学, 総合理工学研究院, 助教 (10817133)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 宇宙線計測 / チェレンコフ検出器 / 粒子識別 / 宇宙線ミュオン

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In order to accurately evaluate the soft-error rate in semiconductor devices caused by cosmic-ray muons, it is necessary to obtain measured data on the flux of low-energy cosmic-ray muons in the actual environment where the computer is installed. In this study, we have developed a Cherenkov detector. It discriminates cosmic-ray electron-derived events from cosmic-ray muon-derived events, which are the main background in the flux measurement of low-energy cosmic-ray muons and measures the kinetic energy of the cosmic-ray muon from the intensity of Cherenkov radiation. We also developed a data acquisition system synchronizing with an existing cosmic-ray muon flux measurement system.

Free Research Field

放射線計測

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究で開発したチェレンコフ検出器は、計算機の稼働する実環境での低速宇宙線ミュオンの流束の実測におけるバックグラウンド電子由来の不確かさの低減に寄与する。これにより、高度情報化社会に深刻な影響をもたらしうる、宇宙線ミュオン起因の半導体デバイスでのソフトエラーの発生確率の高精度評価に貢献することができる。