Use of the temperature peak model for the description of track formation in semiconductor crystals irradiated by fast heavy ions

An attempt to apply the temperature peak model to describe the formation of defects and tracks in semiconductor crystals is made for the first time. The temperature dependences of model parameters, such as specific heat, thermal conductivity, and electron-phonon coupling coefficient are obtained. Agreement between the theoretical results and experimental data for InP and Ge crystals irradiated by ultrafast heavy ions indicates the adequacy of the model, with which one can evaluate the temperature of the local area near the ion trajectory, as well as the diameters of the molten region and experimentally observed track region. The diameter of the cylindrical molten region that forms along the path of 250-MeV Xe⁺ ions in InP is predicted to be 20 nm, and the measured cross-sectional diameters of the tracks fall into the range 7–15 nm.     

On the relaxation of a medium after excitation with single fast heavy ions

A plasma model of relaxation of a medium in heavy-ion tracks in condensed matter has been proposed. The model is based on the solution of time-dependent equations of radiative-collisional kinetics. The state of the medium, which is described in the framework of the classical model of multiple ionization of target atoms by a field of fast multiply charged ions, is used as the initial condition. The relaxation in the plasma is investigated using molecular dynamics simulation. An analysis of the results of the calculations performed has made it possible to determine the range of material parameters at which the plasma model actually changes over to the atomic model and to establish the conditions where the atomic model is a very rough approximation. It is demonstrated that the plasma model adequately describes the X-ray spectra recorded upon interaction of ion beams with condensed targets. An X-ray spectral method based on the plasma model is proposed for diagnosing the plasma in fast-ion tracks. The results obtained can be useful in examining the initial stage of defect formation in solids under irradiation with single fast heavy ions.     

Fluctuation mechanism of formation of discontinuous tracks by fast ions in solids

The effect of one-electron and many-electron charge-exchange processes involving fast heavy ions on the formation of tracks in crystals is considered. The proposed model of fluctuations of charge distributions gives reasonable estimates for the length of defects regions and the distance between defects in discontinuous tracks. The modified model of a thermal peak predicts the track radius. The validity of the model for explaining all the properties of formation of discontinuous and continuous tracks is demonstrated by the example of InP crystals irradiated by 250-MeV xenon ions.     

Source abundances of ultra heavy elements derived from UHCRE measurements

A total of 205 tracks have been located, measured, and positively identified as originating from Ultra Heavy (Z ≥ 65) cosmic ray ions with energies over 2 GeV/amu in the 10 UHCRE plastic track detector (mainly Lexan polycarbonate) stacks studied by our Group. About 40 values of reduced etch rate S have been obtained along each of these tracks. A method based on determining the gradient of S, together with calibration in accelerators, is used to determine the charge of each ion resulting in one of such tracks to obtain the charge spectrum of the recorded Ultra Heavy ions. The abundance ratio of ions with 87 ≤ Z ≤ 100, to those with 74 ≤ Z ≤ 86, as well as that of ions with 81 ≤ Z ≤ 86 to those with 74 ≤ Z ≤ 80 are calculated at 0.016 and 0.32, respectively, which agree with the values obtained from measurements in the HEAO-3 and Ariel-6 experiments. The abundance ratio of ions with 70 ≤ Z ≤ 73 to those with 74 ≤ Z ≤ 86 is also calculated, but its value (0.074) did not seem to be significant because of our detectors' low registration efficiency in the charge range 70 ≤ Z ≤ 73. A computer program developed by our Group, based on the Leaky Box cosmic ray propagation model, has been used to determine the source abundances of cosmic ray nuclei with Z ≥ 65 inferred from the abundances measured in the UHCRE. It appeared that r-process synthesized elements were overabundant compared to the Solar System abundances, as predicted by other authors.     

利用CR39上的径迹鉴别激光加速离子产物

分别利用单能的质子束及碳离子束辐照CR39,并制定了规范的刻蚀条件及流程。通过对处理完成后的数据进行详细处理,得到了质子及碳离子的径迹直径-能量的响应曲线,可用于确定CR39上质子或碳离子的能量。以此为依据,得到了鉴别CR39上质子及碳离子的有效方法。在激光加速离子的实验中,通过测量CR39上的径迹大小及相对灰度,利用本文给出的标定数据,确认了质子径迹,得到了实验的质子能谱。     

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.     

Coupled nano-plasmons

High aspect-ratio nanochannels were fabricated by irradiating polyimide films with swift heavy ions of 2.2 GeV energy and subsequently sensitising and etching the ion tracks in hydrogen peroxide and sodium hypochloride, respectively. The nanochannels were analysed by means of small angle X-ray scattering in combination with a new form factor model that considers bi-conical channel geometry. This approach allows us to tune the etching parameters for controlled channel shape adjustment.     

Watching at the correlation between the specific track-etch rate and the primary physical parameters of the swift ion interaction with the CR-39

Analysis of etched nuclear tracks in CR-39 solid state nuclear track detectors has recently been made possible by the confocal microscope. This recent innovation has opened up some particularly interesting perspectives. The main originality of this microscopy technique is that it makes it possible to work on numerical, three-dimensional images of chemically etched nuclear tracks in the CR-39. We have studied the performances of this new approach for light ions (H, He, Li and C) with kinetic energies typically of the order of the MeV per nucleus. First, we determined the response functions of the CR-39 for these ions. We were then able to show that aside from decreasing the analysis time of traditional methods, the confocal microscope greatly increases the sensibility of the detection. The aim of this study was to find a correlation between the response functions and the primary physical parameters of the interaction between the ion and the material, such as the linear energy transfer (LET), the restricted energy transfer (REL_ω0), the integrated radial dose or the rate of ionization. Although these parameters presented a strong resemblance to the experimental response functions (they are all “Bragg” curves), none of them were correlated to the response function in an unambiguous way.     

Modelling the length distribution of etched tracks taking into account fragmentation due to partial annealing

Fission track length measurements on apatite minerals are of great interest in thermo-chronology studies. RBS analyses on Durango apatites irradiated by Krypton ions have previously shown the progressive fragmentation of tracks by annealing. This study made for different irradiation energies corresponding to those of uranium fission fragments has been completed by TEM and AFM on etched tracks. In all cases, segmentation figures have been observed, that clearly necessitates to introduce fragmentation of latent tracks to model the length distribution of uranium etched fission tracks. This presentation concerns the case of a homogeneous population of tracks with partial amorphization. The next step will consist in considering multiple sub-populations with different segmentation rates. This algorithm is a new aspect to be included in our model, which already takes into account diffusion and crystallography in the track etching process.     

Structural and electrical properties of tracks of heavy ions in polyethylene terephthalate and mica

An image of the entrance of high-energy ions of krypton, xenon, and bismuth on the surface of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and mica is obtained. It is shown that in both cases the tracks have the appearance of protuberances. The formation of protuberances is associated with the destruction of material in the region of the track, the formation of amorphous structure, and the removal of low-molecular-weight radiolysis products as gaseous substances. Storage of the irradiated PET samples in water and a weak alkaline solution for several hours changes the surface topography due to hydrolysis of the material and the removal of radiolysis products into the solution. The kinetics of etching tracks in a weak alkaline solution and the formation of pores are studied. The stream function, electrical resistance, and permeability of the tracks in KCl, LiCl, MgCl₂, and BaCl₂ electrolytes are measured. The surface charge of the tracks is calculated from these values.     

Identification of Multiply Charged Ions by Means of Detectors Based on Phosphate Glass

Physics of Atomic Nuclei - The detection and identification of heavy ions in phosphate glasses is based on an analysis of geometric parameters of tracks that manifest themselves upon the etching of...     

Statistical analysis of cellular detonation dynamics from numerical simulations: one-step chemistry

In this paper, two methods are developed for statistically analysing the nonlinear cellular dynamics from numerical simulations of gaseous detonations, one use of which is the systematic determination of detonation cell sizes from such simulations. Both these methods rely on signed vorticity records in which the individual families of transverse waves are captured independently. The first method involves an automated extraction of the main triple-point tracks from the vorticity records, allowing statistical analysis of the spacings between neighbouring tracks. The second method uses the autocorrelation function to spectrally analyse the vorticity records. These methods are then employed for a preliminary analysis of the cellular dynamics of the standard, idealized one-step chemistry model. Evidence is found for ‘cell size doubling’ bifurcations in the one-step model as the cellular dynamics become more irregular (e.g. as the activation is increased). It is also shown that the statistical models converge slowly due to systematic ‘shot-to-shot’ variation in the cellular dynamics for fixed parameters with different initial perturbations. Instead, it appears that a range of equally probable cell sizes can be obtained for given parameters.     

Effect of stress on track formation in amorphous iron boron alloy: ion tracks as elastic inclusions

In a recently developed model of ion beam induced plastic deformation of amorphous solids, ion tracks are described as cylindrical thermoelastic inclusions formed upon local heating and shear stress relaxation along the ion trajectories. According to this model, track formation can be influenced or even suppressed by an applied stress. This model prediction is tested by studying the influence of stress on the etching of tracks of 2.4 GeV Pb in foil samples of the glassy metal Fe 81B 13.5Si 3.5C (2), where a compressive in-plane stress was built up in limited zones by preirradiation with a high fluence of 200 MeV Xe ions. The variation of the size of the observed etch pits with the local stress is found to be consistent with the model predictions, thus confirming the thermal spike origin of the tracks.     

A search for superheavy nuclei tracks in extraterrestrial olivine crystals

A study is made for the search of superheavy nuclei in Marjalahti, Eagle Station and in other pallasite olivines. The olivine crystals are calibrated for heavy ion track lengths by using heavy ion beams from cyclotrons. The calibration for ultra heavy ions which are presently not available with sufficient energy to produce volume tracks in olivine crystals, is based on Katz and Kobetich model of track formation. The length spectrum of volume tracks, revealed by puncturing them with focussed Nd-glass laser beam, is measured and the abundances of different nuclei groups are calculated. Partial annealing has been used at 430°C for 32 hr which eliminates the interfering tracks due to nuclei of atomic numberS ≤ 50. During the scanning 4 cm³ olivine crystals, about 360 long tracks of uranium group as well as two very long tracks have been found. If these tracks belong to superheavy nuclei, the relative abundance of super heavies is found to be 6 × 10⁻¹¹ in galactic cosmic rays.     

The fission systematics of (15.9 MeV/u) Au ions in polymer CR-39

It has been demonstrated that high-energy heavy ions undergo fission while propagating in dielectric solids. Since these materials act as particle detectors because of their ability to retain primary ionization damage that can be fixed and enlarged with chemical etching, therefore, in principle, a complete kinematical analysis of fission events is possible. The crucial point in this regard is the availability of a well-calibrated range-energy relation, which is necessary for mass identification. We have developed an analytical method to convert the geometrical parameters of fission fragment tracks into physical parameters using an equation that expresses velocity as a polynomial of mass and range. A set of nine different polynomials was used to represent small regions of mass and range in order to improve accuracy. In the case of (15.9 MeV/u) Au ions incident normally on CR-39, we have found about 200 events which could be categorized as in-flight fission of Au ions inside the body of the detector. Mass distributions and cross sections of fission events have been calculated.     

Electrical characteristics of etched ion-tracks in polyimide filled with silver nanoparticles

Silicon ions, of energy 150?MeV and fluence ～10¹²?ions/cm², were used to register latent tracks in 40?µm thick polyimide samples. Different sizes of tracks were obtained by etching the ion irradiated polyimide samples, in chemical solutions, by varying the temperature and etching period. Silver nanoparticles were diffused into the etched tracks by immersing the polyimide samples in silver solution and then irradiating with 6.5?MeV electrons at different fluences varying from 1?×?10¹⁵ to 5?×?10¹⁵?cm^?2. Results of morphological and elemental analysis, carried out by Scanning Electron Microscopy and Energy Dispersive X-ray. Analysis revealed that the conical tracks could be fully filled with silver nanoparticles at electron fluence of 5?×?10¹⁵?cm^?2. The minimum d. c. resistance of an array of tracks, filled with silver nanoparticles and measured across the polyimide film, was orders of magnitude higher as compared to that of silver wires of equivalent sizes connected in parallel. In addition, these silver nanoparticles filled tracks exhibited rectifying I–V behavior and frequency dependent a. c. resistance, characteristic of metal–polymer nano-composites. Possible mechanisms have been discussed, which can justify the asymmetric current–voltage characteristics in such nano-composites.     

喷气式Z箍缩等离子体装置中离子束能谱的测量

利用新研制的紧凑型汤姆生离子能谱仪（ＴｈｏｍｓｏｎＩｏｎＥｎｅｒｇｙＡｎａｌｙｚｅｒ），对喷气式Ｚ－箍缩等离子体装置中离子能谱进行了测量，在ＣＲ－３９上得到了清晰的Ａｒ＋，Ａｒ２＋，Ａｒ３＋离子抛物线轨迹，通过分析计算结果表明：离子的最大能量在１ＭｅＶ左右，离子能谱分布曲线都随其能量增加而单调下降。     

Thermal spike analysis of low energy ion tracks

The theoretical track diameter of low energy ions in organic materials is usually estimated through the model of dose deposition by delta rays, with results remarkably lower than the experimental values obtained via a replica method and electron microscopy. The track detector used here is Makrofol-E and the ions studied have specific energies between 1.4 and 100 keV/n. To evaluate the problem from another point of view, thermal effects for track formation, a modified version of the “liquid drop model” for insulators was applied. The electronic as well as nuclear energy deposition by an individual ion are considered and the thermal spike evolution is studied. The model allows for the formation of ion tracks in a range of energies previously considered as “forbidden”. There still exists a discrepancy between the experimental data and the track diameters predicted by the model, and although this difference is smaller than the obtained with previous calculations, it suggests the necessity of further adjustments.     

Detection of coloured tracks of heavy ion particles using photographic colour film

A photographic colour film, which was exposed to heavy ions, reveals a coloured dye image of the ion tracks. Since the colour film consists of several layers and different colours appear on each layer, three-dimensional information on the tracks in the layers can be obtained by the colour image. Previously, we have reported the method for which the tracks in different colours represented differences of track depth and we also discussed the disadvantages of using commercial colour films. Here we present the procedure for a self-made photographic coating and the development formula which can overcome the disadvantages.