What are the IT requirements for running FASTRAD®?
Minimum requirement:
– Operating System : Windows 11/10
– CPU Type : 2Ghz 64-bit(x64)
– Memory : 8Gb
– Graphic card : integrated
– Disk space : 1Gb
Optimal requirement:
– Operating System : Windows 11/10
– CPU Type : 4,5Ghz 64-bit(x64) 8 cores
– Memory : 16 Gb
– Graphic card : NVidia with 4Gb RAM
– Disk space : 2 Gb
– Disk type : SSD
What is the license policy?
The FASTRAD® license is a node-locked one. A FASTRAD® license can be used on multiple PCs through the use of a USB key holder / dongle.
What is the duration of the license?
The distribution is based on an annual license leasing. Multi-year leasing is available. Please contact fastrad@trad.fr for a quotation request.
How many FASTRAD® users can work with the same license?
The number of people using the same license is not limited. The software can be installed on multiple computers, however only the dongle / USB key holder can activate the license.
Do I really need to follow the FASTRAD® training?
The training is strongly recommended. The training gives you all the tools to successfully perform radiation analyses with FASTRAD®. It includes presentations, video tutorials and exercices that cover 3D modeling, the calculation methods and post-processing. You also have access to our support team. Once all users have completed the training, we schedule a Webex meeting with one of our radiation engineers to get your feedback and to sort out any issues and to answer any questions.
What are the languages available for the interface?
FASTRAD® interface is available in English.
I need to calculate the dose received by my device and to design radiation shielding
FASTRAD® allows to calculate the dose received at device level using the sector analysis method or the Monte Carlo method. Post processing tools allow to identify critical directions, from where radiation comes from. The advance modelling capability allows to easily add shielding where appropriate on the 3D model. For more info, please browse the module page.
What STEP format are available? Is there a limitation on the size of the imported files?
FASTRAD® is able to read STEP files with protocols AP209, AP214, AP214_is and partially AP203. The size limitation depends on the resources of the computer used, not on FASTRAD.
What are the limitations in terms of shapes, detectors or material number?
No limitation
How many component package models are available?
FASTRAD® offers more than 40 models for active components (DIL, DO, Flatpack, TO, TSOP, etc) and passive components (Capacitor, connector, resistor, etc.).
What type of particles can be considered?
For the sector analysis taking a dose-depth curve as an input, FASTRAD® will consider all particles included in the dose-depth curve. For a Monte Carlo simulation: Forward Monte Carlo considers electrons, protons, photons, hadrons (including neutrons and heavy ions), The Reverse Monte Carlo considers primary electrons and protons and secondary electrons and photons (Bremsstrahlung).
Does FASTRAD® offer a multithreading calculation option?
Yes, the Monte Carlo calculation (reverse and forward) allows multi-thread calculation limited to the number of threads available on the user machine.
Is FASTRAD® able to simulate nuclear source with gamma decay?
FASTRAD® is dedicated to the simulation of space environment. It does not allow defining radioactive sources. If you are interesting in this capability, have a look at our software solution for decay simulation: www.rayxpert.com. Please contact rayxpert@trad.fr for a quotation request.
How to consider result differences between sector analysis and Monte Carlo calculation methods? Which one should I use for my calculation?
Sector analysis and Monte Carlo calculations are based on two different approaches:
- Sector analysis converts all materials into Aluminum and uses a dose depth curve as the environment input. This dose depth curve is specific to a shielding and a target material, usually Aluminum and Silicon.
- Monte Carlo considers the actual interactions between particles and matter. The materials do not have to be converted into Aluminum. The particle flux is used as the environment input. The target material can be made of Silicon or any other material depending on the Monte Carlo calculation method.
In summary, sector analysis gives an estimation of the dose for a fast calculation (few seconds) but converting materials into Aluminum and using a specific dose depth curve lead to an important information loss. On the contrary, the Monte Carlo calculation takes into account the actual shielding materials and their properties; however, the computing time is longer.
Can I use FASTRAD® for TNID calculation?
As for TID, FASTRAD® can be used for TNID calculation both through the Reverse MC module and also thanks to the ray-tracing method by entering equivalent fluence depth curve. The same FASTRAD® model (built-in or step imported) is used for TID and TNID calculation. The TNID calculated by Reverse MC can be post-processed thanks to the NIEL table in order to get equivalent fluence for the specified particle and energy.
Can I use FASTRAD® for SEE rate calculation?
FASTRAD® is a tool dedicated to cumulative radiation effects. The SEE rate cannot be calculated with FASTRAD®. However, a FASTRAD® sector file (sectorized geometry) can be used to compute an SEE rate with the OMERE software.
What kind of post-processing is available in FASTRAD®?
Different post-processing levels are available within FASTRAD®:
The dose
The dose results may be displayed in the viewer on the 3D interactive model depending on the detector chosen in the interactive list of the doses
The sector analysis results
The Aluminum crossed thicknesses may be displayed in the 3D geometric model. They may be represented as rays, projection on a sphere or on a box. The rays and mapping are displayed in function of a selected range of thicknesses or a part of the received dose. This box can be defined as representative of a specific part of your model (a unit for example). This last capability may be of particular interest when performing a radiation analysis.
The Monte Carlo particle tracking
All the particle tracks are displayed in the 3D geometric model. The user has access to a large quantity of information for each particle step. It includes its type, energy, energy loss, occurring physical process, position and many others. These data are also available through a text file listing all the interactions and particle steps during the whole calculation.
As this option produces a huge amount of data, it may be interesting to use it as a debugging tool only tracking a limited number of particles.
The Monte Carlo 3D mapping
Dedicated interfaces allow to define sensitive zones and to visualize 3D mapping of the doses, energies and fluences collected in these zones during the Forward and Reverse calculation. It proposes three different visual metaphors to display the information (3D texture, 2D color planes and voxels) and gives the opportunity to filter, clip, and interact with the results in order to highlight the hot paths and critical areas.
Why should I use FASTRAD® for a ray-tracing calculation when I can simply estimate the TID level with the dose depth curve?
The spherical dose depth curve assumes an isotropic shielding distribution, which is not the case in the real system geometry. By using the 3D system geometry in FASTRAD, the real shielding distribution is assumed for the calculation. This allows to, in general, bring down the dose constrain and avoid additional shielding that in reality is not needed.
Why is it important to take into account the shielding provided by the part package?
The part package can bring a significant shielding as it covers the 4-pi space surrounding the silicon die, and it may be manufactured in materials as heavy as metals or ceramics. FASTRAD® proposes a non-exhaustive device package database that can be adapted by users for modelling.