High-Voltage-Discharge Self-Destruct Mechanisms

This proposal presents a plan for developing and evaluating new high-voltage technologies capable of permanently destroying the functionality of semiconductor memory and processor circuits as well as any residual data remanence stored in these units. The envisioned technologies can be implemented on the chip, pc-board, or device platform level--equally effectively for new designs as well as retrofits of older equipment. This will allow for the quick physical self-destruction of critical components in secure systems should the systems be physically compromised. The proposed effort will evaluate, design, and demonstrate the technology in laboratory trials. The program in this proposal has the goals of laboratory implementation and verification of miniature "Marx-bank" pulsers that can be integrated into standard pc-board designs, as well as demonstration of on-command destruction of memory and processor semiconductors by high voltage discharge from these pulsers.