Readiness of the HEARTS@CERN facility for space electronics high-energy heavy-ion testing

The HEARTS@CERN activity in the framework of the HEARTS (High-Energy Accelerators for Radiation Testing and Shielding) EU project is targeted at enhancing Europe’s high-energy (>100 MeV/n) heavy ion electronics irradiation capability through the development of an irradiation beam combining unique penetration and ionization characteristics. These types of tests are essential for exploiting commercial electronics in space. Throughout 2024, the HEARTS@CERN efforts have focused on achieving and demonstrating compliance with the space user radiation effects testing requirements. This includes being able to offer a wide range of energies (and Linear Energy Transfer values) and fluxes, with a high level of accuracy and a rapid change between parameters. Moreover, large homogeneous beams are necessary for enabling the test of multiple electronic components in parallel, and for performing board level testing. This work will present requirements for high-energy heavy ion testing along with the level of compliance achieved, as demonstrated during the November 2024 HEARTS@CERN user run, with a focus on the beam related parameters, but including also facility and procedural considerations.