Nuclear radiation effects in quartz crystals

Review is made of information concerning the ability of current designs of quartz crysta. units to operate in nuclear environments generated by nuclear weapons and propulsion systems. Exposure of military-type crystal units to steady-state nuclear radiation has indicated that most of the units are appreciably affected by integrated neutron doses of 10¹⁷. Differences in results on the same crystals are attributed to differences in processing techniques, fabrication materials and mounting. The large thermal neutron component of the integrated dose is indicated to be primarily responsible for the large number of failures in the steady state reactor. Similar crystal units exposed to gamma photons in the Cobalt-60 facility are shown to be little affected by such radiation. Information is presented to show that military type crystal units are not nermanently affected by a pulsed nuclear radiation dose similer to that specified in the pertinent military standard. The need for information on the transient effects induced by such exposure is stressed. The various radiation environments encountered by satellites and the ability of quartz crystal units to withstand such environments are discussed briefly.