Effects of material and/or structure on shielding of electronic devices

In this paper, we have pioneered a new direction concerning the shielding of electronic devices (at a microcircuit-packaging or a larger level) in a radiative environment. As a matter of fact, this work not only considers the role of the material itself on the shielding efficiency but also the effect of the structure of the shield. By simulations with the NOVICE Code, we have explored the possibility of combining the specific attenuation properties of given materials in an optimized multilayer (and multimaterial) structure. This study is based on a brief theoretical overview of interaction of space radiation with material. Then, the results of simulations are presented. The workframe of these calculations is a worst-case geosynchronous orbit (160/spl deg/ West) for a period of 15 years (trapped electrons and protons from 4 anomalously large solar particle events). We found that it is possible to improve the shielding properties of a monomaterial absorber by using an optimized multilayer, multimaterial shield.