1237a5ac186f
tech



Hello Mike - 

CA>> I was thinking that Gamma particles in space could be
CA>> hitting the CPU and too thin/small a trace within the PNP
CA>> of the chip itself could be literally disconnected while
CA>> the larger trace used on older designs could withstand
CA>> multiple strikes? 

MR> The problem of radiation has two main effects. One is
MR> called a soft failure in which an event switches a bit
MR> state, the other is a hard failure where a state becomes
MR> permanent. In both cases, electrons displaced by the gamma
MR> ray ionisation cause a discharge event though the material,
MR> like a lightning bolt. Charges are moved about and/or some
MR> of the material becomes damaged (i.e. silicon into
MR> charcoal). The damage accumulates over time until the
MR> circuit component such as a memory cell or logic gate
MR> fails. BTW circuit traces will withstand much more damage
MR> before they stop conducting. You can experiment this effect
MR> using an 1N4001 diode and a gamma source. The diode will
MR> exhibit an EMF when subjected to the radiation but this EMF
MR> will gradually decrease as the diode material becomes
MR> damaged. BTW be sure to observe proper nuclear safety
MR> handling procedures!  

OK, so you're saying that I am basically correct I just picked
the wrong area of damage to be concerned about. 

I thought so. ;-) 

>
>        ,                                        ,
>      o/      Charles_Angelich  - DOS Ghost       \o       ,
>       __o/
>     / >  www.undercoverdesign.com/dosghost/faf/  < \   __\__
 

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