High Proton Radiation Tolerance of InAsSb Quantum-Well-Based micro-Hall Sensors

Tolerance of AlInSb/InAsSb/AlInSb heterostructures quantum-well-based micro-Hall sensors against proton irradiation of 380 keV and proton fluence in the range 10¹¹ and 10¹⁶ (proton/cm²) is reported. Defects and deep levels induced by proton irradiation into the heterostructures caused decreases in the mobility of the micro-Hall sensors. Degradation of the magnetic sensitivity started at a proton fluence of 10¹³ (proton/cm²) and continued with increasing proton fluence. The variation of the micro-Hall sensors sensitivity was minimal in lowdoped AlInSb/InAsSb/AlInSb heterostructure quantum wells. These micro-Hall sensors were operable even at proton fluence of 10¹⁶ (proton/cm²), which makes these devices suitable for space applications with lifetime of thousands of years in the outer space.