Total dose effects on error rates in linear bipolar systems

The shapes of single event transients in linear bipolar circuits are distorted by exposure to total ionizing dose radiation. Some transients become broader and others become narrower. Such distortions may affect the Single Event Transient (SET) system error rates in a radiation environment. If the transients are broadened by total ionizing dose (TID) exposure, the error rate could increase during the course of a mission, a possibility that has implications for hardness assurance. Index Terms--Bipolar circuit, error rate, single event transient, total dose.