11-09-2021, 11:55 AM
(10-09-2021, 01:09 AM)Amie Wrote: It's interesting, but my curiosity doesn't extend to operating them while detonating a small yield nuclear weapon in the potting shed
I've been thinking of this...
A nuclear explosion liberates energy, as heat, light, and higher-frequency gamma radiation. Plus there are copious quantities of sub-atomic particles. What there isn't, AFAIK, is a large-energy magnetic pulse of the type you'd get if you discharged a huge electrolytic cap into a big coil.
That being so, I'd expect the pulse of gamma rays to disrupt electron flow, but as the transit-time in these little valves (nanoseconds) is going to be much longer than the period of gamma oscillation (picoseconds) there will be an averaging effect and not much variation of current will occur. I'm assuming that eddy-currents induced in the electrodes is insufficient to heat them and damage them.
The sub-atomic particles will easily penetrate the glass envelope and play havoc, but only for a short time. They may disrupt the crystal structure of the matter of the valve, but unlike transistors and IC's with their micron-sized features, it won't matter.
If the searing heat is shielded from the valves, they won't overheat.
I'd reckon they'll survive and work afterwards.
Somewhere in Russia, there must be data on this. It'd be a shame if Amie had to sacrifice her potting shed in the interests of research...
