TO RADIATION HARDENING

IT IS WELL KNOWN THAT THE RESISTIVITY OF DIELECTRICS DROPS PRECIPITOUSLY UNDER HIGH ENERGY RADIATION. THIS IS CLEARLY AN IMPORTANT PROBLEM FOR ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT UNDER RADIATION BOMBARDMENT IN CASE OF NUCLEAR ATTACK, IN THE SPACE PROGRAM, AND IN NUCLEAR POWER IN STALLATIONS, WHETHER FIXED POWER OR MOBILE (SHIP) POWER PLANTS. THE PRESENT PROPOSER FOUND THAT AFTER THIS INITIAL RESISTIVITY DROP, FURTHER IRRADIATION CAUSED A MARKED RISE IN RESISTIVITY OF MANY DIELECTRICS. WHEN REMOVED FROM RADIATION, THE RESISTANCE RETURNED TO ITS PRE-IRRADIATED VALUE. THIS EFFECT ON THE INDUCED RESISTIVITY SUGGESTS THE POSSIBILITY OF PRE-IRRADIATING DIELECTRICS TO THE POINT WHERE THEY PASS THE RESISTIVITY LOW POINT AND HAVE CLIMBED UP THE RISING SIDE OF THE RESISTIVITY-RADIATION CURVE. WE PROPOSE TO INVESTIGATE THIS RADIATION HARDENING EFFECT OF DIELECTRICS IN ELECTRONIC COMPONENTYS ALONG WITH CHEMICAL ADDITIVIES IN ORDER TO REDUCE THE MOBILITY OR LIFE TIME OF THE CHARGE CARRIERS INDUCED BY THE RADIATION.