Cyclotron Beam Time SOW - 18 Aug 26 v.1.pdf

18 Aug 2026

Statement of Work

1. Scope The Air Force Research Lab (AFRL), Space Warfare Directorate, Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico requires time and usage on the of University of California (UC) Davis’ cyclotron located at UC Davis Crocker Nuclear Laboratory, Davis, California. UC Davis offers rental of its cyclotron facility to Government and commercial industry to conduct radiation effects studies.

AFRL requires time and usage of UC Davis’ cyclotron to conduct proton irradiation experiments to execute radiation tolerance characterization of focal plane arrays, detector test chips, detector material samples and sensing materials. UC Davis’ cyclotron will facilitate a series of AFRL R&D programs of record requiring a facility and associated equipment capable of performing proton irradiation.

2. Background

The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), Space Warfare Directorate, Advanced Electro Optic Space Sensors (AEOSS) program at Kirtland Air Force Base performs radiation testing on the state-of-the-art of III-V superlattice (SL) and HgCdTe (MCT) infrared materials and detectors for mid-wavelength infrared (MWIR) Launch Detection (LD) and Missile Warning (MW), Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR), and Space Situational Awareness (SSA) Air Force applications. To qualify these detectors and focal plane arrays (FPAs) for space operation, they must be verified in a simulated space environment that includes radiation, such as gamma rays, high-energy protons, and heavy ions. Such testing is therefore performed by AEOSS before launching these FPAs into space where they are expected to survive and perform for several decades.

AFRL’s AEOSS group is interested in characterizing and qualifying the performance of the state-of-the-art infrared detectors and FPAs for operation in space. The primary objective is to conduct proton irradiation experiments on FPAs, single element detectors, material samples and other sensing technologies in as timely and cost efficiently a manner as possible. This task will service a series of R&D and programs of record across the AF and national security space community in general.

3. General Requirements.

For every 40-hours of continuous beam time usage, the Government will test approximately two

(2) focal plane arrays (FPAs) and approximately ten (10) semiconductor discrete devices.

The US Government will transport to/from UC Davis its own equipment, testing samples and personnel.

The UC Davis will provide access to its cyclotron to include equipment facility operators and all administrative costs associated with facility proton irradiation testing.

3.1 Detailed Requirements

UC Davis will provide time and usage of a cyclotron capable of meeting the specifications detailed below:

a. The proton beam is continuous, not pulsed.

b. Proton flux ranging between 100 and 1010 protons/cm2∙s.

c. Proton beam energy at the output port ranging up to 63 MeV at a max current of 100 nA.

d. The spatial distribution of the proton beam is at least 3 in (7.6 cm) in diameter to allow for irradiation of large format FPAs. Beam sizes larger than 3 inches in diameter are preferred.

e. Beam uniformity >95% (at high ion flux) within 2.0 cm radius

f. Uncertainties in fluence at 3.0 cm below 4%

g. The proton beam facility shall provide external means of beam control to permit the user to control it once beam is turned on.

h. Sole access to the proton beam during our reserved weeks.

The facility dosimetry system shall provide (at a minimum) the following information:

a. Date and Time of Irradiation

b. LET of proton beam

c. Range of proton beam

d. Effective fluence (ions/cm2)

e. Beam Flux (ions/cm2/sec)

f. Beam live time (seconds)

g. Beam dead time (seconds)

h. Total Ionizing Dose

UC Davis will provide the following:

a. Cyclotron beam time continuously for 40 hours, over a one continuous week.

b. The beam dosimetry report for the week usage of the cyclotron.

c. US Government personnel who come to UC Davis radiation dosimeters/badges and likewise ensure safe beam operation. Government personnel, at completion of cyclotron usage, will turn in dosimeters and badges.

d. US Government personnel usage of the UC Davis South Cave room for experimental setups starting the Saturday afternoon prior to the week of beam time and ending Sunday morning post the week of beam time.

e. US Government personnel 24/7 building access to the US Davis cyclotron during the week of beam time to allow for experimental setup and teardown.

f. US Government personnel parking passes for an equipment trailer and up to four (4) vehicles.

g. Cyclotron for usage with an 85% duty cycle; meaning that for every 8-hour cyclotron shift that is billed, 6.8 hours of useable beam time will result.

h. To the US Government the resulting beam dosimetry report at the end of the scheduled time.

i. The UC Davis cyclotron generated report shall be emailed to the US Government POC within one (1) business day of the Government departing UC Davis.

4. Deliverables

No need to address.