Proton induced damage in SiC light emitting diodes

The possible use of SiC LEDs (light emitting diodes) as NIEL (Non Ionizing Energy Loss) monitors for space and other applications has been investigated. The effects of proton irradiation on both the response time and the intensity of the light emitted by "blue" SiC LEDs have been measured for proton energies between 2.0 and 500 MeV. Variation of the damage constants K/sub /spl tau//(E/sub p/), defined in terms of the response time decrement, and K/sub L/(E/sub p/), defined in terms of the decrease in light output, are compared with calculations of NIEL and the Relativistic Elastic scattering cross section.