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To: dennisw
Mostly. In solid state electronics, materials and some non-industry standard techniques can also provide some protection. But that's the cost problem. Our computers etc are so cheap because they can make runs of thousands at a time. Going for "special" chips magnifies the costs enormously and lags a bit.

You think Congress screamed over a $10,000 toilet seat, what do you think they would do if today, we paid $200,000 each for a bunch (say 300) of 386 or 486 chips?
56 posted on 08/29/2002 10:09:13 AM PDT by DK Zimmerman
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To: DK Zimmerman
Actually, the EMP problem looks like it's on its way to resolution in the next 15-20 years thanks to...

High-definition television.

Seems that HDTV transmitters need lots of solid-state electronics, but that the transmitter output would be enough to zap ordinary ICs. The solution: instead of your basic silicon wafers, the HDTV system uses silicon carbide components, which can function just fine in a high-intensity RF environment. EMPing these chips would be several orders of magnitude more difficult.

59 posted on 08/29/2002 10:14:44 AM PDT by Poohbah
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To: DK Zimmerman

Good EMP article

http://216.239.37.100/search?q=cache:Fzw3CzMPONMC:www.georgetown.edu/sfs/programs/nssp/nssq/Edwards.pdf+emp+hardening+microcircuits&hl=en&ie=UTF-8
63 posted on 08/29/2002 10:23:04 AM PDT by dennisw
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