About this Abstract |
| Meeting |
2027 TMS Annual Meeting & Exhibition
|
| Symposium
|
Materials and Manufacturing in Space
|
| Presentation Title |
Radiation Effects on Widegap Semiconductors in Low Earth Orbit |
| Author(s) |
Wolfgang Windl |
| On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
Wolfgang Windl |
| Abstract Scope |
We present a multiscale modeling framework to predict radiation-induced degradation in widegap semiconductors exposed to the harsh environment of low Earth orbit (LEO). Using first-principles calculations, we extract defect formation energies and charge transition levels for GaN and Ga₂O₃ under ionizing radiation conditions. These parameters are incorporated into cluster dynamics and TCAD simulations that model energy deposition and charge cloud formation resulting from energetic heavy ion impacts representative of galactic cosmic rays. The spatial and temporal evolution of electron-hole pairs is simulated as a function of incident energy and material response, enabling correlation with experimentally observed degradation modes such as single-event burnout. This approach facilitates physics-based predictions of single-event device performance loss over time, accounting for both intrinsic material properties and the stochastic nature of the LEO radiation environment. Our method provides a foundation for lifetime modeling of widegap electronic and optoelectronic devices in next-generation space-based systems. |
| Proceedings Inclusion? |
Planned: |
| Keywords |
Electronic Materials, Environmental Effects, Computational Materials Science & Engineering |