Annealing of 54 132 Xe-ion tracks in Lexan and Makrofol plastic track detectors

Samples of Lexan and Makrofol-E polycarbonate plastic track detectors were exposed to 1·1 MeV/N ₅₄ ¹³² Xe-ions to investigate the thermal track fading properties of these plastics. The experimental results show that there is no effect of annealing on the bulk etch rate while the track etch rate decreases with annealing. The track diameter decreases with increase in annealing time and temperature. It is also observed that the track density is reduced as a result of annealing. The experiments reveal that the track lengths are, in general, decreased by the application of heat and that the oblique tracks are less stable than the vertical tracks. The decrease in diameter of ₅₄ ¹³² Xe-ion tracks in Makrofol-E due to heat treatment is faster than that of ₅₄ ¹³² Xe-ion tracks in Lexan.     

On the response of LR-115 plastic track detector to 10 20 Ne-ion

The track etch rates of ₁₀ ²⁰ Ne-ion in cellulose nitrate (LR-115) have been measured for different temperatures and the activation energy is determined. The experimental results show that both the track etch rate and the normalized track etch rate depend on the energy loss as well as on etching temperature. The maximum etched track length of ₁₀ ²⁰ Ne-ion agrees with the theoretically computed range. The experimental results show that there is no sharp threshold, at least in CN(LR-115).     

Study of 18 40 Ar ion tracks in cellulose nitrate

Sample of cellulose nitrate (Russian) is exposed to ₁₈ ⁴⁰ Ar ions. The bulk etch rate has been studied at different etching temperatures and the activation energy for bulk etch rate has been calculated. The etched track lengths are measured for different etching times. The energy loss rate and range of ₁₈ ⁴⁰ Ar ions in CN(R) is also calculated. The critical threshold value for etchable track in CN(R) is determined by comparing the theoretical and experimental values of track length. The response curve of CN(R) is also presented.     

On the Thermal Stability of Tracks in Plastics and some Uses in Radiography

The eradication of alpha and fission tracks and the selective track discrimination by heat treatment have been studied in cellulose nitrate, cellulose acetate, and polycarbonate sheets. Some applications of the phenomena in alphagraphy and fissionography are presented.     

The effect of post-exposure annealing on the track registeration characteristics of CR-39 nuclear track detectors

The effect of post exposure annealing on the track registeration characteristics of CR-39 (Pershore) Solid State Nuclear Track Detectors has been studied. The changes introduced in the bulk etch rates, track diameter, and the track density have been observed. The results indicate that the bulk etch rate of the detectors and the size of the tracks are considerably changed due to annealing. Variations in the track density are, however, not serious in the presently studied temperature range.     

The chemical etching of fission fragment tracks in natural fluorite

An experimental study of the mechanism for chemical etching of fission fragment tracks in the natural mineral fluorite is described. A systematic search showed that a 3:1 mixture by volume of sulphuric to hydrochloric acids was a most appropriate etchant. Experiments directed at determining the etching efficiency as a function of solvent temperature are also discussed. The preferential track etch ratioVt/Vg, the track length and the track density all depend upon the time and temperature of annealing.

It is variations of the fission track density in fluorite, with etching time and annealing temperature, which make possible an overall geophysical interpretation of annealing data for the mineral in terms of the paleoisotherm of its intrinsic fission track clock.

An interactive image analysis system INTIMAN, assembled for the swift and automatic readout of fission fragment track measurements, in both crystalline and non-crystalline materials, is described. Normal procedures for measuring and analyzing tracks are outlined.     

On the question of nuclear track formation in plastic material

A review is given about nuclear track formation in plastic track detectors. The radiation damage of heavy ions around the latent tracks is studied using measurements of radial track etch rates in Å-dimensions.     

Thermal annealing of heavy ion tracks in muscovite mica

Abstract

Thermal annealing of latent tracks caused by the passage of heavy ions, viz. Pb²⁰⁸ (13.8 MeV/n) and Ni⁵⁸ (15.37 MeV/n), in muscovite mica is investigated. The activation energy for track annealing, determined using different annealing models, is compared. The effect of thermal annealing on size and energy resolution of heavy ions in mica, based on the track etch rate and track length reduction, is discussed.     

High energy heavy ion tracks in bubble detectors

Bubble detectors which are commonly used as neutron detectors have been demonstrated through this study to be good detectors for registration of high energy heavy ion tracks. Large size bubble detectors made in China Institute of Atomic Energy were irradiated to heavy ions Ar and C up to 650 MeV/u and 400 MeV/u, respectively. Very clear features of stringy tracks of high energy heavy ions and their fragmentations are manifested and distinguishable. A single track created by a specific high energy heavy ion is composed of a line of bubbles, which is visible by naked eyes and retained for months wihhout reduction in size. The creation of heavy ion tracks in bubble detectors is governed by a threshold whose essence is approximately a critical value of energy loss rate (dE/dX)_c similar to that of etch track detectors. Ranges of heavy ions in bubble detectors are apparent and predictable by existing formulas. Identification of high energy heavy ions and the applications to heavy ion physics, cosmic rays, exotic particles and cancer therapy monitoring are obviously promising. The experimental and theoretical aspects of high energy heavy ion tracks in bubble detectors as well as the expectable applications are presented and discussed.     

Effect of Annealing Temperature on Track Diameter

In exposing cellulose nitrate CN85 plastic films to alpha particles derived from a ²⁴¹Am source, track diameters were measured with regard to different annealing temperatures. The results have shown that the diameters of the tracks are decreasing when the annealing temperatures are increasing.

Kunstharzfolien aus Zellulosenitrat CN85 wurden einer Alphastrahlung ausgesetzt, die einer ⁴²¹Am-Quelle entstammten. Es wurden die erzeugten Spurendurchmesser im Hinblick auf die Ausheilungstemperatur vermessen und es konnte gefunden widen werden, daβ die Spurendurchmesser mit steigender Ausheilungstemperatur abnehmen.     

High Energy Charged Particle Registration in CR-39 Polycarbonated Detector

Track etch rate characteristics of CR-39 plastic detector exposed to ²⁸Si ions of 670 MeV energy have been investigated. Experimental results were obtained in terms of frequency distribution of the track diameter, track density and bulk etching rate. A dependence of the mean track diameter on energy was found. The application of the radiation effect of heavy ions on CR-39 in the field of radiation detection and dosimetry are discussed. Results indicated that it is possible to produce etchable tracks of ²⁸Si in this energy range in CR-39. We also report the etching characteristics of these tracks in the CR-39 detector.     

Track recording properties of soda glass detector for accelerated heavy ions

The etch pit diameters of soda glass detector samples exposed to ₅₄ ¹³² Xe-ions of different energies are measured for different etching times after etching the detector in a ‘new etchant’ free of the adverse effect of the etch product layer. The dependence of track diameter on the energy and on the energy loss, dE/dx of ₅₄ ¹³² Xe-ion in soda glass has been presented. The energy resolution of soda glass and the critical angle for etching of fission fragment tracks in glass detectors have also been determined. The maximum etched track length of ₅₄ ¹³² Xe-ion in soda glass has been compared with the theoretical range. The effects of different annealing conditions on bulk etch rate of glass detector and on diameters of ₅₄ ¹³² Xe-ion tracks have been presented. Experimental results show that there is a decrease in track etch rate, etching efficiency and etchable range of ₅₄ ¹³² Xe-ions with annealing. The annealing of oblique tracks shows that the vertical tracks are more stable than the oblique tracks.     

On the mechanism of the sensitization of PADC (poly(allyl diglycol carbonate)) track detectors by carbon dioxide treatment

The sensitization effect of carbon dioxide treatments with 0.6 MPa on poly(allyl diglycol carbonate) (PADC) etched track detectors is confirmed for protons and He, C, and Fe ions, where the stopping powers range from 10 to 600 keV/μm. Based on the FT-IR study for the PADC films that were maintained at room temperature and at elevated temperatures, the diffusion coefficient of carbon dioxide, is determined as D = 14,670exp(−9030/T(K)) cm²/s. The sensitivity is enhanced when carbon dioxide is released toward the chemical etching solution that passes through the detector surface. Segmented PADC polymer chains are washed away by the flow of carbon dioxide along the latent tracks in PADC, which results in a higher track etch rate.     

Effect of high gamma dose on the PADC properties

The effect of the properties of PADC nuclear track detectors after exposure to high doses of gamma absorbed doses up to 5×10⁵ Gray (50 Mrad) were studied. The gamma source was a 9.03 PBq (244 KCi), Co-60 source. Results indicate that each of the bulk etch rate (V_b), the tracks etch rate (V_t) and the sensitivity (V) of the detectors increases with the high gamma absorbed dose, but there is a drop in these parameters at the low gamma absorbed dose. Signs of surface roughness were observed by increasing the gamma absorbed doses and changes in color observed for doses larger than 2×10⁵ Gray. The temperature of detectors during irradiation time reached 41°C. The fission fragment tracks (from Cf-252 source) disappeared quickly within the etching time (minutes) for total absorbed doses greater than 3×10⁵ Gray due to their high bulk etch rate.     

Studies on the track formation mechanism of the heavy ions in CR-39

The bulk etch rate for two types of CR-39 detector was measured as a function of temperature and the activation energies of bulk etching was determined. Experimental values of track etch rate were derived directly from the function of the succesive measured track length vrs. etching time for ²⁰⁹Bi, ¹²⁹Xe and ²⁰Ne ions.

The maximum etchable length of 13 MeV/u ²⁰⁹Bi and 13.04 MeV/u ¹²⁹Xe ions have been measured at and below these energies. A comparison of the measured and calculated track length data is presented.     

Nuclear tracks: present and future perspectives

Current research work related to the development of nuclear tracks comprising: (i) fundamental principles (nuclear track physics and chemistry, as well as development of track detectors and the relevant hard- and software), (ii) development of nuclear instruments and methods (etch track radiometers for ions, neutrons and cosmic rays, radon monitoring devices, radiography and fission track dating) is briefly outlined. The paper concentrates on a literature survey of applications of nuclear tracks in (iii) physical sciences (high-energy physics, nuclear physics and earth sciences), (iv) biomedical sciences (radiation protection, environment, cancer therapy), and (v) technological sciences (materials, nano-technology and nuclear technology).

Presently about 350 papers per year are being published in this field. Increased activity is noted in ion track technology (track-made membranes, modern nano-tech methodology including biological and biological-like samples, nano-electrode bio-electrochemistry, bio-magnetic assays and probes). New applications of nuclear tracks in fundamental (possibility of the detection of neutron quantum states in a gravitational field, nucleus–nucleus interactions, search for new chemical super-heavy elements) and applied science (precise measurements of the behaviour of radiation in human tissue in connection with of long term space missions and treatment of cancer) are surveyed, and possible research in the next decades is presented and examined in this review paper.     

A comparative study of track registration response of makrofol-(KG, KL & N) polycarbonate to Ar ions

In the present work a comparative study of track registration response of ⁴⁰Ar ions in different types of Makrofol polycarbonates viz. Makrofol-KG, KL & N have been done. The etched track parameters viz. bulk etch rate, track etch rate, etch rate ratio, cone angle and etching efficiency were calculated. The variation of etching rates with temperature were found to be exponential and follow the Arrhenius equation. The values of activation energy for bulk and track etching were also calculated. Maximum etchable track length/range were also obtained and compared with the theoretical values obtained from computer program RANGE. From the results it is found that the polycarbonates having same chemical composition manufactured by different chemical processes have slightly different behavior.     

Conductivity of aged non-overlapping and overlapping tracks in ion irradiated polyimide

Non-overlapping as well as overlapping tracks of energetic ions have been introduced into polyimide foils. After aging their conductivity was measured. This — to our knowledge — first systematic study shows that conductivity does not only result from multiple track overlapping, but can be found already in single ion tracks. This conductivity is shown to be primarily a consequence of electronic energy transfer. The conductivity of single ion tracks is higher than that of typical insulators, but still orders of magnitude lower than that of typical semiconductors. The conductivity is independent of the applied electric field strength until at excessive voltages the electric current increases nonlinearly up to complete breakthrough. The total conductivity of an irradiated polyimide foil increases proportionally with ion fluence for large ion track spacings, and approaches saturation when the electronically active track regimes begin to overlap. Above some thousand times track overlapping however, new chemical and structural changes in the irradiated material lead to another strong increase in conductivity.     

Response of triafol-TN plastic track detectors to238U-ions

Triafol-TN plastic detector foils have been irradiated with²³⁸U ions of energy 16.34 MeV/u and the tracks produced have been observed using the chemical etching technique. The bulk etch rate and track etch rate are determined under successive chemical etching. In our case, the validity of Arrhenius’s law is confirmed by the fact that the same value ofE _a obtained for these different concentrations, within experimental errors. The results show a linear correlation between the measured track etch rate along the track and the corresponding total energy loss rate and a threshold value of ～ 5.0 MeV/(mg/cm²) for track registration was obtained. The maximum etched track length of²³⁸U-ion in triafol-TN has been compared with the theoretically computed range.