Studies on the variation of the track etch rate along alpha particle trajectories in CR-39

At the beginning of the etching process a constant track etch rate can be assumed. In deeper detector layers, however, the etch rate varies drastically along the particle trajectories. Consequently, the indirect determination of the track etch rate by measuring the etch pit diameters on the detector surface does not yield correct results. Therefore, a method for the direct measurement of the track etch rate as a function of the depth within the detector was developed. Applying this method, the relationship between the track etch rate and the energy loss in CR-39/PATRAS could be derived.     

Characterization of photoluminescence spectra from poly allyl diglycol carbonate (CR-39) upon excitation with the ultraviolet radiation of various wavelengths

The induced photoluminescence (PL) from the π-conjugated polymer poly allyl diglycol carbonate (PADC) (CR-39) upon excitation with the ultraviolet radiation of different wavelengths was investigated. The absorption and attenuation coefficients of PADC (CR-39) were recorded using a UV–visible spectrometer. It was found that the absorption and attenuation coefficients of the PADC (CR-39) exhibit a strong dependence on the wavelength of ultraviolet radiation. The PL spectra were measured with a Flormax-4 spectrofluorometer (Horiba). PADC (CR-39) samples were excited by ultraviolet radiation with wavelengths in the range from 260 to 420 nm and the corresponding PL emission bands were recorded. The obtained results show a strong correlation between the PL and the excitation wavelength of ultraviolet radiation. The position of the fluorescence emission band peak was red shifted starting from 300 nm, which was increased with the increase in the excitation wavelength. The PL yield and its band peak height were increased with the increase in the excitation wavelength till 290 nm, thereafter they decreased exponentially with the increase in the ultraviolet radiation wavelength. These new findings should be considered carefully during the use of the PADC (CR-39) in the scientific applications and in using PADC (CR-39) in eyeglasses.     

Alpha particle track coloration in CR-39: Improved observability

A comparative study of the observability of alpha particle tracks in CR-39 was performed with an optical microscope before and after coloration. The implantation of ink helped in observing the damage zones. At first glance through the microscope, the coloration makes the tracks stand out right away. This coloration is helpful, from the start, in the morphological study of the tracks (size, area, orientation, shape, perimeter). This operation is advantageous in distinguishing the alpha particle tracks from stains or scratches. Thus, the routine counting of the tracks is more easily performed. Consequently, this procedure allowed us: to decrease significantly the standard deviation of the approximate total of the parameters given from the image analysis system (Olympus CUE2); to envision the possibility of reasonably decreasing the etching time in order to limit the loss of information caused by the destruction of the CR-39 during chemical etching and to use a weaker enlarging lens in order to cover a larger field of observation for the counting operations.     

Measurement of the track etch rates along proton and alpha particle trajectories in CR-39 and calculation of the detection efficiency

Computation of the neutron response of CR-39 detectors needs to simulate the track formation by neutron induced charged particles taking into account the bulk etch rate and the track etch rate varying along the particle trajectories. The latter one was determined experimentally by track length measurement. The results allowed to derive the relationship between the track etch rate and the restricted energy loss of the charged particles. On this basis, the geometrical track parameters and track etch rates as well as the critical angle of particle incidence could be determined for protons and alpha particles in the energy range from 0.2 to 8.8 MeV. The energy dependence of the critical angle enabled to determine the detection efficiency for a charged particle of given energy and direction.     

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.     

Range and energy-loss measurement of238U in Makrofol-N using CR-39 track detector

A simple experimental technique has been described for measuring range and energy-loss of any heavy ion in any complex medium with the help of a sensitive solid state nuclear track detectors (SSNTDs). In this paper we present the results obtained from our measurements of ranges and energy-loss of 16.34 MeV/u²³⁸U in Makrofol-N using CR-39 track detector. Experimental ranges are compared with the corresponding theoretical values. The significance and scope of the present work are discussed.     

Calibration study on the triton response of CR-39 track detector

Triton response of the CR-39 track detector has been studied at energy ranges below 2.7 MeV. Triton irradiation was made both on the top and the well polished side surface of the CR-39 sample sheets, using ⁶Li(n,t)⁴He reaction in a thermal neutron field. At large residual ranges more than 10 μm, fine results of etch rate ratio were obtained by analysing the growth curves of etch-pit radius on the top surface. But the response at near the track end-point could not be obtained well in this method, as a result of the missing track effect. Clearly resolved response at short residual ranges was attained by means of the shape analysis of the etch-pit profile observed on the side surface.     

Characteristics of diallyl phthalate resin as a fission track detector

Diallyl phthalate (DAP) resin plates were irradiated with fission fragments, and then etched in aqueous solution of KOH. Etched tracks were observed and counted by using an optical microscope. The detection efficiency of fission fragments was about 100% for both perpendicular and random incidence. DAP plates were insensitive to alpha particles and fast neutrons. These characteristics are suitable for detecting selected fission fragments, which coexist with alpha particles or fast neutrons. DAP plates are valuable for quantitative analysis of fissionable materials and neutron dosimetry. DAP and allyl diglycol carbonate (CR-39) were formed into copolymers in various ratios. The copolymers showed intermediate characteristics between DAP and CR-39. The fabrication of the copolymers made it possible to control the discrimination level for detection of heavy charged particles.     

Neutron response calculation on the basis of variable track etch rates along the secondary particle trajectories in CR-39

The calculation of the response of CR-39 detectors exposed to neutrons is of high importance for their dosimetric application. A computer code system has been developed for this purpose. Whereas the generation of secondary charged particles is carried out using non-analogue Monte-Carlo techniques with variance reduction the simulation of the track formation process is treated without any free parameter starting from the etch rate ratio V(REL) only. Results are given for the contribution of recoil protons to the response as a function of the neutron energy and angle of incidence. Furthermore, the influence of an external radiator has been studied. The comparison of the calculated values with experimental data confirm the reliability of the track etch model applied.     

Dose-rate effects on the bulk etch-rate of CR-39 track detector exposed to low-let radiations

The effect of gamma-rays and pulsed electrons has been investigated on the bulk etch rate of CR-39 detector at doses up to 100 kGy under various dose-rate between 0.0044 and 35.0 Gy/s. The bulk etch rate increased exponentially with the dose at every examined dose-rates. It was reveled to be strongly depend on the dose-rate: the bulk etch rate was decreased with increasing dose-rate at the same total dose. A primitive model was proposed to explain the dose-rate effect in which oxygen dissolved was assumed to dominate the damage formation process.     

Registration temperature effect on sensitivity of CR-39(DOP) and SR-90 polymer track detectors

The samples of CR-39(DOP) and SR-90 polymer track detectors have been exposed to -particles from ²⁴¹Am source in an exposure unit. The temperature of the detectors during irradiation has been varied from −30°C to 70°C. These exposed samples have been etched in 6.25 N NaOH solution at 60°C for various etching times. The variation of sensitivity of these detectors as a function of registration temperature has been studied. It has been observed that at the fixed registration temperature, the sensitivity of SR-90 is more than CR-39(DOP) polymer track detector. However, the enhancement in sensitivity with the decrease in registration temperature is more pronounced in case of CR-39(DOP) than SR-90.     

On the effect of cure cycle parameters and dopants on pre and post irradiation annealing response of CR-39 track detectors

The effect of additives and cure cyle parameters on pre and post irradiation annealing characteristics of CR-39 detectors has been investigated. Effect of pre and post irradiation annealing on bulk etch rate, sensitivity, track diameter and etching behaviour of various CR-39 detectors has been investigated.     

Influence of intense soft X-ray radiation on the parameters of tracks induced in CR-39 and PM-355 solid state nuclear track detectors

This paper presents the results of the influence of soft X-ray radiation on craters induced in SSNTDs by energetic α particles and protons of energy in the MeV range. We checked two detectors of the PM-355 and CR-39 types in order to verify and compare their resistance to the harsh conditions of high-temperature plasma experiments. To determine this effect some detector samples were first irradiated with α particles emitted from natural α particle sources and protons delivered by a particle accelerator. After that these samples were exposed to soft X ray radiation emitted from an X ray tube and also from the PF-1000 Plasma Focus facility. Doses during X ray irradiations varied from 0 up to tens of kGy. The irradiated samples were then etched in steps and track diameters were determined versus the absorbed dose and etching time and compared with those measured in samples not exposed to X ray radiation.     

Effect of vacuum, oxygen and carbon dioxide on the track registration in SR-90 and CR-39

The molecular structure of SR-90 and CR-39 is very similar except that the average length of carbonate linkages in SR-90 is 1.6 times longer than in CR-39. However, the effect of vacuum and carbon dioxide (CO₂) on the track registration of these two detectors is very different: 1) the sensitivity of CR-39 becomes very low in vacuum; the sensitivity of SR-90 does not go down to zero even after storage in vacuum for a long time; 2) the sensitivity of SR-90 decreases both in air and in vacuum but the original sensitivity can be restored by storing it in CO₂ of 13 atm for several days. We also found that the sensitization of latent tracks by oxygen (O₂) is effective only at the time of irradiation but the sensitization by CO₂ is effective after irradiation.     

Effects of radiations on the characteristics of alpha and fission tracks in CR-39 detectors

Abstract

The effects of neutron, gamma and alpha radiations on the alpha and fission fragment tracks registration and revelation properties of CR-39 detectors (CR-39 and CR-39(DOP) were studied. It was found that the ratio of the bulk etch rate of irradiated to unirradiated (V_G(irr.)/V_G(unirr.) detectors is linearly dependent on dose. An exponential decrease in fission track densities with increase in neutron fluence was observed. The ratio of V_G(irr.)/V_G(unirr.) was found to be high in CR-39 than that in CR-39(DOP) exposed to the same reactor neutron fluence. The decrease in fission track densities with increase in neutron fluence was observed to be faster in CR-39 than in CR-39(DOP). This indicates that doping with dioctyl phthalate improves the radiation resistance of CR-39 detectors. It was observed that in detectors exposed to an alpha flux of the order of 9.36 × 10⁶ / cm², the fission track density was reduced by 11% and thereafter it remained constant. The results also indicate that thermal neutron fluence up to 7.01 ×10¹¹ neutrons/cm² does not affect the alpha and fission track densities. I.R. spectra were also studied to find out the nature of chemical changes produced by these radiations on CR-39.     

The Bragg-peak studies in CR-39 SSNTD on the basis of many-hit model for track etch rates

Etching rates along tracks of protons and lithium ions with energies in the Bragg peak region were explored. The energy losses in this region, especially for protons of low energies, are of particular interest from the physical as well as biological points of view. The microscopic track etch rate, V_T, is studied using the many-hit model in its first approximation assuming that V_T is a function of the restricted energy loss (REL_ω). The ions multiple scattering and straggling effects on the average experimental V_T values are corrected by shifting the calculated REL_ω values along the track, until its maximum coincides with that of the V_T. The fitting of least square differences between calculated and experimental V_T values is used in order to determine the many-hit model registration parameters for the detector under investigation.