Testing and Validation Methodology for a Radiation Monitoring System for Electronics in Particle Accelerators

In this work, a methodology for the design and validation of a radiation monitoring (RadMON) system for electronic systems in particle accelerators is presented. The methodology expands the common radiation hardness assurance (RHA) procedure implemented at CERN, including new steps dedicated to both system-level testing, focused on a wireless device, and sensors characterization and readout validation. A case study demonstrating the validity of this methodology is proposed with the qualification of a novel battery-powered wireless RadMON system. This system not only represents the validation vehicle of the methodology but also an innovation in terms of monitoring platform due to its flexibility and improved capabilities. The application of this methodology allowed its full qualification, providing useful data in terms of resistance to radiation, lifetime, and failure rate in operation, demonstrating the validity of the testing strategy proposed in the article.