X-ray failure analysis techniques

While most organizations in the High Power Microwave and Electromagnetic Pulse (HPM/EMP) community want to know “Can I effect that device?” this paper will help answer the complicated and ever-growing question “How did I effect that device?” Using the Metris XT V 160 X-ray Inspection machine, techniques for detecting physical effects of HPM sources on circuit components have been developed. Effects that can be detected range from evaporated wire bonds within an Integrated Circuit (IC) package to damaged traces on an IC Die. The non-perturbing techniques developed can save valuable time and money in the failure analysis community, and provide HPM source developers with data to help with the next generation of HPM weapons.