[Southack]

"I can see MAYBE warhead radiation having an effect on thin-film resistors and capacitors, as these are in the pretty much the same category as chips, WRT radiation effects---BUT NOT WIRING."

How precise does the detonation timing have to be to achieve a successful implosion?

[GingisK]

How precise does the detonation timing have to be to achieve a successful implosion?

WWII machining tolerences, no better. Easily exceeded with CNC machines.

Fortunately, the secrets that are carefully kept are the dimensions, shapes, and arrangements of all of this crap. If one buys one from the Soviets, on the other hand, all off this has already been perfected. It is not entirely reasonable to think the Russians couldn't keep supplying replacement parts for a good price. I am somewhat reluctant to count them as "bussom buddies", even at this stage.

I hope these reports are crap.

[Wonder Warthog]

"How precise does the detonation timing have to be to achieve a successful implosion?"

Probably pretty precise, but radiation-induced damage to the conductors of wiring won't be large enough to affect it.

Think about it for a minute---the only mechanism for radiation damage is for the radiation to displace electrons from their "normal" bonds and orbits. In silicon chips and similar devices, and in wiring insulation, some (or most) of those electrons get trapped and cannot return to their "normal" state. BUT, because wiring is conductive throughout its volume, any "displaced" electron (or another conductance band electron) "zips" into the displacement location as soon as the inducing radiation ceases, thus eliminating the "damage". To cause irreversible radiation damage in conducting wires requires HUGE radiation fluxes.