Radiation Poses Significant Threat to Computer Chips in Space, Requiring Specialized Hardening
Computer chips, particularly those utilizing Complementary Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor (CMOS) technology, are highly susceptible to damage from radiation in space. Professor Li Chen from the University of Saskatchewan explains that as radioactive particles pass through a chip, they leave behind electrical charges that can interfere with transistors, leading to unintended switch activations. This interference can instantly alter stored data, corrupt calculations, interrupt programs, or cause sudden power surges. Over time, radiation can also cause gradual damage, making chips slower, more power-intensive, or completely inoperable. Given that spacecraft can be millions of miles from Earth, even a minor electronic error can have severe consequences. Li's research group focuses on understanding these effects and developing radiation-hardened electronics. They recreate space-like environments in laboratories to test chips under radiation exposure, identifying sensitive areas and designing more resilient circuits....
