LOW-DOSE RATE PROTON IRRADIATION OF QUARTZ-CRYSTAL RESONATORS

Quartz crystal resonators were systematically irradiated with 65 MeV p rotons to characterize low dose rate radiation-induced degradation Res ults indicate: (1) test samples that exhibit large frequency shifts du ring testing bend to show large frequency shifts prior to irradiation, or during off-irradiation periods; (2) for radiation-sensitive sample s, short-term effects seem to decrease after each irradiation on/off c ycle (moreover, those devices in which radiation effects do not decrea se after a few cycles ate not very sensitive); (3) the fabrication pro cess may be an important determinant of susceptibility to low dose rad iation-induced degradation; and (4) total-dose effects may be sublinea r.