The Effects of Surface Contamination on the Noise and Drive-Level Sensitivity of Piezoelectric Resonators.
Abstract
The effects of surface contamination on the short term instabilities and drive level sensitivities of piezoelectric resonators are explored. A plausibility argument is presented to show that the adsorption and desorption of surface contamination may be a significant contributor to short term instabilities. Although high drive levels produce high velocities and accelerations at resonator surfaces, the extra kinetic energy imparted directly to contaminant molecules by the high drive levels is shown to be negligible compared to the adsorption/desorption energies of the contaminant molecules of concern. Since adsorption/desorption rates depend exponentially on temperature, and since the increased dissipation caused by high drive levels raises the resonator's temperature, surface contamination can influence a resonator's drive level sensitivity via thermal effects. Keywords; Contamination; Surface contamination; Noise; Resonator; Quartz resonator; Piezoelectric resonator; Adsorption; Desorption; drive level; Short term stability.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 01, 1987
- Accession Number
- ADA181299
Entities
People
- John R. Vig