When ACD 30" monitor gets hot, kernel_task utilizes all CPU on Mac Book Air

I've been having a problem with my system slowing down due to the system "kernel_task" taking over all available CPU (up to 150% of a CPU on my dual core Mac Book Air). I've figured out some of the parameters of the problem, and it seems related to having the Air hooked up to an external monitor:
1) It seems to only happen when the Air is attached to an external monitor, which in my case is a 30" Cinema Display (which is through a Mini DisplayPort to Dual-Link DVI Adapter -- not sure if this is relevant)
2) It only happens when the monitor itself is physically warm to the touch (actually the back gets quite hot).
3) When the kernel_task takes over, and I unplug the Air from the DVI Adapter, kernel_task usually settles down (to 5 - 10% CPU utilization) within 30 - 60 seconds
4) If I plug the Air back into the DVI adapter at this point (while the monitor is still warm), kernel_task CPU utilization immediately jumps up to 130 - 150%.
5) If I wait until the monitor is cool before plugging the Air back into the DVI adapter, kernel_task stays in the normal 2 - 10% CPU utilization range for 30 - 90 minutes and the process starts all over again (at this point the monitor is usually quite warm / hot again)
Rebooting doesn't seem to help (if the monitor is hot, kernel_task starts hogging the CPU right after booting up).
Has anyone experienced a similar problem? Any thoughts about possible remedies, or ways to further isolate the problem?
I appreciate your reading this somewhat bizarre tale of woe.
Thanks,
Marc

After upgrading to 10.5.7 this week my MacBook Air goes into kernel_task spin-mode within minutes even when the machine is idle. There are many discussions about this, the longest of which is here: http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=9458471&#9458471

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When ACD 30" monitor gets hot, kernel_task utilizes all CPU on Mac Book Air

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