The Effects of Hydrogen in Hermetically Sealed Packages on the Total Dose and Dose Rate Response of Bipolar Linear Circuits

It is demonstrated with test transistors and circuits that a small amount of hydrogen trapped in hermetically sealed packages can significantly degrade the total dose and dose rate response of bipolar linear microelectronics. In addition, we show that when exposed to an atmosphere of 100% molecular hydrogen dies with silicon nitride passivation are unaffected, whereas dies with silicon carbide or deposited oxides become very soft at high and low dose rate.