Simulation technologies for cosmic ray neutron-induced soft errors: Models and simulation systems

The authors review two types of simulators for the analysis of cosmic ray neutron-induced soft errors (SEs). One of them is the neutron-induced soft error simulator (NISES). A recently proposed nuclear reaction theory forms the foundation for the nuclear reaction database used in NISES. The other simulator, the simplified simulator MBGR, is based on a modified version of the burst generation rate (BGR) model. Both simulators accurately simulate neutron-induced SE rates (SERs). MBGR actually provides an easier and quicker estimation of neutron-induced SER's than NISES. On the other hand, NISES covers more applications: it simulates neutron-induced charge collection, multiple-bit SE, and /spl alpha/-induced SE analysis.