Results from gamma ray and proton beam radiation testing of quartz resonators

The paper presents results of radiation tests on cultured quartz resonators conducted to determine the frequency shifts (Delta f/f) of the resonators as a result of high and low levels of proton and gamma irradiation. All resonators tested were 5 MHz, 5th overtone, AT cut units manufactured in different lots from nine bars of Premium-Q swept cultured quartz. Resonators manufactured from the same bar of cultured quartz showed consistent frequency changes when subjected to high level gamma radiation. This consistency did not exist, however, when the resonators were exposed to low level gamma radiation. It is found that the low level radiation sensitivity of a resonator cannot be extrapolated from high level radiation data. It is pointed out that radiative preconditioning reduces the radiation-induced frequency shifts at both high and low radiation levels.