Analysis of total dose-induced dark current in CMOS image sensors from interface state and trapped charge density measurements

The origin of total ionizing dose induced dark current in CMOS image sensors is investigated by comparing dark current measurements to interface state density and trapped charge density measurements. Two types of photodiode and several thick-oxide-FETs were manufactured using a 0.18-µm CMOS image sensor process and exposed to 10-keV X-ray from 3 krad to 1 Mrad. It is shown that the radiation induced trapped charge extends the space charge region at the oxide interface, leading to an enhancement of interface state SRH generation current. Isochronal annealing tests show that STI interface states anneal out at temperature lower than 100°C whereas about a third of the trapped charge remains after 30 min at 300°C

Displacement Damage Effects in Pinned Photodiode CMOS Image Sensors

This paper investigates the effects of displacement damage in Pinned Photodiode (PPD) CMOS Image Sensors (CIS) using proton and neutron irradiations. The DDD ranges from 12 TeV/g to ${1.2 times 10^{6}}$ TeV/g. Particle fluence up to $5 times 10^{14}$ n.cm $^{-2}$ is investigated to observe electro-optic degradation in harsh environments. The dark current is also investigated and it would appear that it is possible to use the dark current spectroscopy in PPD CIS. The dark current random telegraph signal is also observed and characterized using the maximum transition amplitude

Assessment of Ge-doped optical fibres as a TSL-mode detector

International audienceThis study analyses the thermally stimulated luminescence or thermoluminescence (TL) glow curve between 300 and 773 K of germanium-doped silica optical fibre. A main glow peak at 530 K with a characteristic spectral emission centred at 400 nm is found. Both features are particularly suitable for dosimetry. Thus, an investigation by the TL technique of some first clinically relevant features of a TL sensor like the dose- and dose rate-responses is examined. The presented studies show that germanium doped silica fibres have potential dosimetric properties and should be excellent TL-mode detectors in instances of radiotherapy (clinical dosimetry) and in-vivo radiation dosimetry as well in the field of nuclear facilities

Diagnostic du colmatage des générateurs de vapeur à l'aide de modèles physiques et statistiques

Steam generators are massive heat exchangers feeding the turbines of pressurised water nuclear power plants. Internal parts of steam generators foul up with iron oxides which gradually close some holes aimed for the passing of the fluid. This phenomenon called clogging causes safety issues and means to assess it are needed to optimise the maintenance strategy. The approach investigated in this thesis is the analysis of steam generators dynamic behaviour during power transients with a monodimensional physical model. Two improvements to the model have been implemented. One was taking into account flows orthogonal to the modelling axis, the other was introducing a slip between phases accounting for velocity difference between liquid water and steam. These two elements increased the model's degrees of freedom and improved the adequacy of the simulati onto plant data. A new calibration and validation methodology has been proposed to assess the robustness of the model. The initial inverse problem was ill posed: different clogging spatial configurations can produce identical responses. The relative importance of clogging, depending on its localisation, has been estimated by sensitivity analysis with the Sobol' method. The dimension of the model functional output had been previously reduced by principal components analysis. Finally, the input dimension has been reduced by a technique called sliced inverse regression. Based on this new framework, a new diagnosis methodology, more robust and better understood than the existing one, has been proposed.Les générateurs de vapeur sont d'imposants échangeurs de chaleur qui alimentent les turbines des centrales nucléaires à eau pressurisée. Au cours de leur exploitation, des dépôts d'oxydes s'y accumulent et obstruent progressivement des trous prévus pour le passage du fluide. Ce phénomène, appelé colmatage, pose des problèmes de sûreté. Une méthode de diagnostic est nécessaire pour optimiser la stratégie de maintenance permettant de s'en prémunir. La piste explorée dans cette thèse est l'analyse de la réponse dynamique des générateurs de vapeur lors de transitoire de puissance, à l'aide d'un modèle physique monodimensionnel. Deux améliorations ont été apportées au modèle existant au cours de la thèse : la prise en compte des débits perpendiculaires à l'axe du générateur de vapeur et la modélisation du déséquilibre cinématique entre la phase liquide et la phase vapeur. Ces éléments ont ajouté des degrés de liberté permettant de mieux reproduire le comportement réel des générateurs de vapeur. Une nouvelle méthodologie de calage et de validation a alors été proposée afin de garantir la robustesse du modèle.Le problème inverse initial était mal posé car plusieurs configurations spatiales de colmatage peuvent donner des réponses identiques. La magnitude relative de l'effet des dépôts suivant leur localisation a été évaluée par analyse de sensibilité avec la méthode de Sobol'. La dimension de la sortie fonctionnelle du modèle a au préalable été réduite par une analyse en composantes principales.Enfin, une méthode de réduction de dimension appelée régression inverse par tranches a été mise en œuvre pour déterminer dessous-espaces de projection optimaux pour le diagnostic. Une méthode de diagnostic plus robuste et mieux maitrisée que celle existante a pu être proposée grâce à cette nouvelle formulation

Relativistic thermodynamics of perfect fluids

The relativistic continuity equations for the extensive thermodynamic quantities are derived based on the divergence theorem in Minkowski space outlined by St\"uckelberg. This covariant approach leads to a relativistic formulation of the first and second laws of thermodynamics. The internal energy density and the pressure of a relativistic perfect fluid carry inertia, which leads to a relativistic coupling between heat and work. The relativistic continuity equation for the relativistic inertia is derived. The relativistic corrections in the Euler equation and in the continuity equations for the energy and momentum are identified. This relativistic theoretical framework allows a rigorous derivation of the relativistic transformation laws for the temperature, the pressure and the chemical potential based on the relativistic transformation laws for the energy density, the entropy density, the mass density and the number density.Comment: 62 page

Radiation Effects in CMOS Isolation Oxides: Differences and Similarities With Thermal Oxides

Radiation effects in thick isolation oxides of modern CMOS technologies are investigated using dedicated test structures designed using two commercial foundries. Shallow Trench Isolation and Pre-Metal Dielectric are studied using electrical measurements performed after X-ray irradiations and isochronal annealing cycles. This paper shows that trapping properties of such isolation oxides can strongly differ from those of traditional thermal oxides usually used to process the gate oxide of Metal Oxide Semiconductor Field Effect Transistors. Buildup and annealing of both radiation-induced oxide-trap charge and radiation-induced interface traps are discussed as a function of the oxide type, foundry and bias condition during irradiation. Radiation-induced interface traps in such isolation oxides are shown to anneal below 100°C contrary to what is usually observed in thermal oxides. Implications for design hardening and radiation tests of CMOS Integrated Circuits are discussed

Dynamical amplification of phase conjugation using a modulated optical feedback in a Nd:YVO_4 laser

International audienceWe demonstrate an efficient dynamical amplification of phase conjugation in the gain medium of a diode-pumped Nd3+:YVO4 solid state laser via excitation of its relaxation oscillations. Consequently, enhancement in the modulated amplitude of the phase conjugate wave is observed with up to +30 dB compared to classical homodyne approach

Displacement damage effects due to neutron and proton irradiations on CMOS image sensors manufactured in deep submicron technology

Displacement damage effects due to proton and neutron irradiations of CMOS image sensors dedicated to imaging are presented through the analysis of the dark current behavior in pixel arrays and isolated photodiodes. The mean dark current increase and the dark current nonuniformity are investigated. Dark current histogram observations are compared to damage energy distributions based on GEANT 4 calculations. We also discuss, through annealing analysis, which defects could be responsible for the dark current in CMOS image sensors

Similarities Between Proton and Neutron Induced Dark Current Distribution in CMOS Image Sensors

Several CMOS image sensors were exposed to neutron or proton beams (displacement damage dose range from 4 TeV/g to 1825 TeV/g) and their radiation-induced dark current distributions are compared. It appears that for a given displacement damage dose, the hot pixel tail distributions are very similar, if normalized properly. This behavior is observed on all the tested CIS designs (4 designs, 2 technologies) and all the tested particles (protons from 50 MeV to 500 MeV and neutrons from 14 MeV to 22 MeV). Thanks to this result, all the dark current distribution presented in this paper can be fitted by a simple model with a unique set of two factors (not varying from one experimental condition to another). The proposed normalization method of the dark current histogram can be used to compare any dark current distribution to the distributions observed in this work. This paper suggests that this model could be applied to other devices and/or irradiation conditions