High-Temperature Electronic Requirements in Aeropropulsion Systems

This paper discusses the needs for high-temperature electronic and electrooptic devices as they would be used on aircraft engines in either research and development applications, or operational applications. The conclusion reached is that the temperature at which the devices must be able to function is in the neighborhood of 500°C to 600°C either for R&D or for operational applications. In R&D applications, the devices must function in this temperature range when in the engine but only for a moderate period of time. On an operational engine, the reliability requirements dictate that the devices be able to be burned-in at temperatures significantly higher than those at which they will function on the engine. The major point made is that semiconductor technology must be pushed well beyond the level at which silicon will be able to function.