The CERN radiation environment can lead to extremely harsh operating conditions for electronic systems. Many electronic systems at CERN must operate reliably in radiation environments. The design of such systems requires that the performance of each individual semiconductor component but also of the entire system is characterized under a radiation environment. Radiation accelerates the degradation of the electrical performance of the electronic parts, but it can also create transient phenomena. Such damage at the part level can induce malfunction or ultimately functional failure at the subsystem and system levels. A rigorous methodology is needed to ensure that the radiation environment does not compromise the functionality and performance of the electronics during the system life. This methodology is called Radiation Hardness Assurance (RHA).

The CERN Radiation Hardness Assurance (RHA) is a procedure to follow, based on a set of activities, rules and guidelines, to ensure that the electronic parts and systems continue to perform according to their design specifications after exposure to the CERN radiation environment. The procedure is described in the ‘Guidelines for the Radiation Hardness Assurance (CERN-RHA) for CERN accelerators equipment.