Alpha quartz

The history of the use of alpha quartz, SiO/sub 2/, one of the nine forms of silica is sketched, and its structure and crystallography are described. Piezoelectricity, the most important property of quartz from an electrical standpoint, is explained. Processing of quartz crystals to ensure proper operation in circuits is discussed. The two primary types of device made from quartz crystal plates or wafers, the quartz crystal resonator and the quartz transducer, are described.<
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