Radiation Study Reveals Hidden Vulnerability in Common Electronics Component
A groundbreaking study reveals that multilayer ceramic capacitors, widely considered radiation-resistant, actually show enhanced sensitivity to low-dose-rate gamma radiation. The research uncovers an unexpected phenomenon where slower radiation exposure causes more significant damage than high-dose bursts, with implications for aerospace, medical, and nuclear applications.
Surprising Radiation Sensitivity Discovered
In what industry analysts are calling a paradigm-shifting discovery, new research indicates that a common electronic component long considered radiation-tolerant actually suffers significant damage when exposed to low levels of gamma radiation over extended periods. According to the study published in Nature Communications, multilayer ceramic capacitors (MLCCs) exhibit what’s known as enhanced low dose rate sensitivity (ELDRS) – a phenomenon previously thought to affect only active semiconductor devices.