Effects of ionizing radiation and magnetic fields on digital data stored on floppy disks.

Abstract

To evaluate the effect of x rays and magnetic fields on high-density, 3.5-inch floppy disks. A 1-Mbyte worksheet file was stored on 20 recently purchased high-density floppy disks. Five disks were stored as controls. Five other disks were then exposed to 70-kVp and 6-MV x rays with exposures of 100-1,000 R (0.026-0.26 C.kg-1). Ten other disks were exposed to magnetic fields with a maximum strength of 1,000 G. Magnetic fields around an airport metal detector and x-ray unit were measured. Another set of 10 disks was passed through the metal detector 50 times and through the x-ray unit 12 times. Ionizing radiation had no effect on the data stored on the disks. Magnetic fields with a maximum strength of 500 G had no effect, but field strengths of 1,000 G completely erased the data. Neither the airport metal detector nor the x-ray unit had any effect on the data. Airport metal detectors and x-ray scanners have no effect on digital data stored on floppy disks.