-------- Original Message --------
From: jim bell <jdb10987@yahoo.com>
Apparently from: cypherpunks-bounces@cpunks.org
To: Juan <juan.g71@gmail.com>, "cypherpunks@cpunks.org" <cypherpunks@cpunks.org>
Subject: Re: How much/what hardware does the rowhammer DRAM bug affects?
Date: Fri, 18 Sep 2015 21:30:32 +0000 (UTC)
 

>Within the last couple of months, I think somebody was arrested for planning some sort of "X-ray death ray". http://nypost.com/2015/08/18/kkk-member-built-death-ray-machine-to-kill-muslims-and-obama-prosecutors-say/     But only a dweeb doesn't know that X-rays cannot be focussed.  (With one very obscure exception not applicable here.  Find it and get an "attaboy!". )

Its called Grazing Incidence

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X-ray_optics
 
 
>Microwaves, OTOH, can be focussed rather easily.  The frequency is 2.45 Ghz, at about 1 Kilowatt.  (wavelength about 12 centimeters.)  I'd have to consult a Radio Amateur's handbook, but a modern dish (intended or Directv or Dish network) could probably get 15-20 db of gain, compared with isotropic.  An old-style 8-foot dish probably would do 30 db gain.  That would be 100 kilowatts ERP.
 
>Such an unshielded  (open) device would probably impair WiFi at 2.5 Ghz severely, if you're close to it, say a few hundred feet away.  Fortunately, I think microwave ovens have better than 60 db of shielding.  A few 10s of feet, away, hardware damage might occur if that full 1 kw were allowed to leak out.
           Jim Bell