[time-nuts] How quartz crystals are (were) fabricated

[Bob Camp]

Hi

The X-Ray process does nothing good to the crystal. It's impact is highly dependent on how "dirty" the crystal is.

Bob

On Aug 1, 2013, at 4:14 AM, Charles P. Steinmetz <charles_steinmetz at lavabit.com> wrote:

> Alberto wrote:
> 
>> A really fascinating story in pictures of the preparation and manufacture of quartz crystals for radio communication.
> 
> Another interesting historical piece on quartz crystals:
> 
> http://www.ieee-uffc.org/main/history-bottom.asp
> Proceedings of the 35th Annual Frequency Control Symposium, pp. 3-12, 1981
> 
> The film linked by Alberto referred to a procedure used by Reeves Sound Labs to lower the frequency of crystal blanks by exposing them to intense X-radiation.  Does anyone here know how the treated crystals behaved with respect to stability and aging (drift) compared to crystals that did not receive this treatment?  (I.e., is this a possible method to improve crystals, or alternatively does it produce crystals with inferior properties?)
> 
> Best regards,
> 
> Charles
> 
> 
> 
> 
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