3 Jan
2007
3 Jan
'07
8:38 p.m.
From: Grant Stockly <grant at stockly.com>
---snip---
Electronics don't care if there are x-rays present when they are on any
more than when they are off. They die at the same rate. : )
Grant
Hi
That is not totally true. Semiconductors do care. When x-rays go through
a simiconductor, it creates electron/hole pairs. With no bias on these, they
usually just recombine. With bias, these become current flow. To add to
insult, this current can be amplified by parasitic transistors as exist in
CMOS
devices. This can lead to a high current run away.
Snap, the magic smoke leaks out and that is the end.
Now, the question is, does an airport x-ray machine create enough of this
kind of current to cause damage to a biased device?
Dwight
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