Soft error is a term used in the field of computer science and electronics to describe a transient, non-permanent malfunction or erroneous behavior that occurs in a digital device or system due to the influence of external factors or internal electrical disturbances.
Typically, soft errors are caused by high-energy particles such as alpha particles, cosmic rays, or electromagnetic radiation interacting with the delicate components of electronic systems, including memory cells, logic gates, or register files. These particles can disrupt or alter the states of these components, leading to incorrect data values, computation errors, or temporary system failure.
Unlike hard errors that permanently damage or permanently alter the functionality of a device, soft errors are temporary in nature and do not cause permanent damage. Once the external radiation source or disturbance is eliminated, the device or system usually resumes its normal operation.
Soft errors can have serious consequences if they occur in critical systems, such as aerospace applications, medical equipment, or financial systems, where the integrity and accuracy of data are crucial. To mitigate soft errors, techniques such as error detection and correction codes, redundancy, shielding, or error-hardened design approaches are employed.
In summary, soft errors refer to transient and non-permanent malfunctions or erroneous behaviors that occur in electronic systems or devices due to external radiation or internal electrical disturbances, which can disrupt normal operation but are typically not permanent.
