A European high-energy heavy-ion facility for electronics irradiation based at CERN: Concept Design Report

Abstract

This proposal presents a concept design for a European high-energy heavy-ion facility dedicated to electronics radiation-effects testing, directly addressing the critical challenges of global beam time shortages and energy limitations in existing facilities. Aligned with the HORIZON-CL4-2026-SPACE-03-85 call under Horizon Europe's Cluster 4 (Digital, Industry, and Space), the facility will enhance European sovereignty in space technology by providing approximately 1,900 additional hours of heavy-ion beam time annually--a 50% increase in European capacity--and extending the accessible ion energy range up to 100 MeV/nucleon, significantly improving penetration capabilities for state-of-the-art electronics testing. The facility will leverage CERN's Low Energy Ion Ring (LEIR) synchrotron, integrating a dedicated extraction system, transfer line, and user experimental area. The project timeline includes a technical design study, followed by infrastructure and hardware production, installation, commissioning, and user operations. Funding will be secured through a collaborative framework involving CERN and the European Union, ensuring sustainable deployment and long-term operational success.