Weak link-strong link

Stronglinks are always mechanical devices, not dissimilar from the motor controlled switches in early nuclear weapons (see Section 2.1.2). A simple AC or DC signal is used to drive mechanical actuators, called drivers, in a specified sequence of events (generally 24) which are monitored by a single-try discriminator. This sequence is designed to be incompatible with any sequence which could be generated by typical or atypical environments. If the sequence is incorrect, the discrimator locks and will permit no further activation attempts. If the sequence is correct, the discriminator activates an energy control element, which is also mechanical and may involve electrical contacts, explosive pellets, ferrite buttons, or optical fibers and prisms[14]. Stronglinks are sometimes described as mazes; the unique signal encodes the path out of the maze and controls the driver to follow that path. As such, a stronglink is nothing more than an elaborate mechanical discrimator which operates an energy control element. Only once all energy control elements are activated, is