Re: Effect of radiation on computers -Reply

[MARK WINSLOW <WINSLOW.MARK@EPAMAIL.EPA.GOV>]

I remember this a little from college.  In the beginning of the electronic chip industry there was some problems
with radiation.  However this was not from external background.  In the beginning of the computer chip era
silicon could be not refined to an ultra pure state like today.  Therefore you had trace amounts of U the chip. 
When the uranium kicked off an alpha particle damage would occur in the Si crystal latus.  I'm not sure if the
damage was from the alpha or the energetic Th atom.

Mark P. Winslow
US EPA - Region II