Abstract: An IC device is packaged for accelerated transient particle emission by doping the underfill thereof with a transient-particle-emitting material having a predetermined, substantially constant emission rate. The emission rate may be tunable. In one aspect, a radioactive adhesive composition is provided for bonding a semiconductor device to a chip carrier. The radioactive adhesive composition is made from a cured reaction product including a resin and a filler, and may be reworkable or non-reworkable. Either the resin or the filler, individually or both together as a mix, are doped substantially uniformly with the transient-particle-emitting material, thereby putting the transient-particle-emitting in close proximity with the IC to be tested. The underfill is formulated to have a stable chemistry, and the doped particles are encapsulated, so as to contain the emissions. Accelerated transient-particle-emission testing may then be performed on the IC in situ to provide accelerated detection of soft errors.

Abstract: Issues that are addressed in accordance with at least one presently preferred embodiment of the present invention, are: improvements upon the time it takes to physically swap degraders (done previously by hand); the safety involved in doing so, since the degraders become highly radioactive; possible improved energy resolution and beam stability if the accelerator can be left running continuously; and in-situ monitoring of beam current, beam position and stability. Particularly contemplated are methods and arrangements for changing degraders automatically, not manually, and in a safe manner.