Vol. 52, No. 3        February 12, 1999

Electronics

Sandia centers 4600 and 1700 developed the fastest known encryption chip, called the "SNL Data Encryption Standard (DES) Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC)." The DES algorithm is a mathematical transformation commonly used to protect data by cryptographic means. The device consists of 16 sets of 16,000 transistors on an integrated circuit chip the size of a dime. Data are pipe-lined through the transistors, where the information is scrambled so that it becomes incomprehensible to anyone who does not have the cryptographic key. (4600, 1700) (NWSBU)

Sandia's Radiation Effects Nuclear Microprobe was used to precisely determine which components of Sandia's 256K SRAM (static random access memory) did not achieve desired radiation hardness thresholds during broadbeam testing. These components, in the control circuitry of the SRAM, were not expected to be radiation-sensitive. The work, which could only have been performed at this facility, saved the program as much as 6 months and $1 million in redesign, manufacture, and test costs and provided new insight into the radiation performance of SRAMs. (1100, 1700) (NWSBU)

Sandia's Microelectronics Development Laboratory (MDL) delivered 114 DOE Mark Quality application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs) in September 1999. Although Sandia Microelectronics has a long history of delivering Mark Quality ASICs, these are the first deliveries manufactured in the MDL. The ASICs included in this shipment will be used in joint test assemblies for the W76-2F redesign. (1720, 1730) (NWSBU)

A new sensor platform has been developed for detection of biological agents. The sensor uses surface acoustic waves, with shear-horizontal (SH) polarization, which propagate at a solid/liquid interface and detect species bound to the surface. Biological specificity is achieved by coating the device with a molecular recognition layer selective to a biological agent. The device is expected to have applications in biological warfare agent detection and in medical diagnostics. (1700) (ETSBU)

µChemLab: We have successfully miniaturized a suite of sophisticated chemical analysis technologies and engineered them into an integrated prototype device. In doing so, we have successfully demonstrated a fully self-contained, portable, hand-held system capable of rapid and sensitive analysis of both gas and liquid samples. This technology is of particular interest to first responders and warfighters faced with chem/bio threats. CRADAs with major commercial partners with broad applications interests are being negotiated. (1000, 4000, 6000, 8000) (LDRD)

Through a Laboratory Directed Research and Development program, we developed a conceptual design of a nanosat, weighing less than 10 kg (22 lb), which could be used to implement a large aperture space antenna formed with an orbiting cluster of 40-100 nanosats. Technology developed to support this concept included silicon heat pipes to control temperatures in high-density electronic packaging, material fabrication techniques for high-efficiency solar cells, techniques for fabrication of structural batteries, and photonic integrated circuits for intersatellite high-data-rate laser communication. (1700, 2500) (LDRD)

Last modified: February 28, 2000

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