Determination of the range of alpha particles in SSNTD by optical density method

A technique based on the optical density (D) measurement of the etched track is useful for charged particles spectroscopy using SSNTD. It was shown that the stopping power of alpha particles in CR-39 is proportional to D. We measured the optical density and derived an expression to estimate the range of alpha particles in CR-39 detector as a function of the bulk etching rate and etching time. The relation between the etching time, track parameters (depth, radius) and D for different alpha particles energy and etching conditions were studied. A relation describing D as a function of track size is proposed.     

Computation of etched track profiles in CR-39 and comparison with experimental results for light ions of different kinds and energies

Computation of etched track profiles needs the knowledge of the variable track etch rates along the ion trajectories. Using the depth-dependent track etch rates experimentally determined for perpendicularly incident protons, deuterons and alpha particles as well as ⁷Li, ¹¹B, ¹²C, ¹⁴N and ¹⁶O ions of different energies simulations of the track development were performed. Two models of track etching were applied for that purpose recently published in literature. Although the models are based on the same physical fundamentals the results are slightly different. The reasons of the discrepancies were found by analysing the algorithms in detail. Comparison of the calculated track profiles with those determined experimentally from longitudinal sections of the etch pits showed good agreement for non-overetched as well as overetched tracks. The consistency of the whole experimental data set was checked by analysing the correlation of the track etch rates with geometric track parameters for all kinds of ions and etching times covered by the experiments.     

基于智能算法的CR39径迹刻蚀过程模拟

CR39可以用于激光等离子物理实验中的离子探测,并给出离子数目、种类和能量信息。通过采用唯象模型,利用离子在CR39中径迹形成的阻止本领动力学方程以及粒子群智能算法对径迹形成的过程进行了数值化模拟,研究了CR39中离子径迹在刻蚀过程中的演化过程,获得了入射离子能量和径迹直径、深度的对应关系,并且发现当离子射程与刻蚀深度相等时,径迹深度最大,给出了利用总刻蚀时间计算最大径迹深度对应的临界能量的公式。     

Modeling the fission track etching process in apatite: Segmentation or crystallography influence

In this study, two factors which can influence fission track etching in apatite are considered: track segmentation (induced by thermal annealing) and variable radial etching speed (due to the reagent diffusion during the etching process).

During the latent track annealing, two distinguishable steps can be identified by measuring track lengths or diameters. A length reduction is firstly observed, followed by a segmentation process which leads to the emergence of disrupted regions (gaps).

At present time, electron microscopy studies on fission tracks in apatite show profiles which lead to hypotheses of a variable radial etching speed versus depth. These variations can be interpreted in terms of acid diffusion along the track. Moreover, the existence of several bulk etching speeds related to crystallographic orientation is approached.

Taking into account these different points, a software program, integrating parameters as original track orientation and depth, number of gaps, etc., is developed in order to model the track profile evolution during the etching process. Comparison with experiments in Durango apatite (Mexico) are also undertaken.     

Numerical solving of the track wall equation in LR115 detectors etched in direct and reverse directions

Our equation of the track wall was solved numerically by using finite difference method and computer software MATHEMATICA. This method was applied for alpha particle tracks in LR115 detector, assuming both directions of etching, from the top and bottom of the sensitive layer. The equation of the track wall etched in reverse direction was derived, and has the same form as one for direct etching, with some difference in argument of V function. We will analyse the consequences of direct and reverse etching on the shape of alpha particles tracks with energies ranging from 2 to 4 MeV in thin LR115 NTDs.     

Inter-comparison of geometrical track parameters and depth dependent track etch rates measured for Li-7 ions in two types of CR-39

The depth dependent track etch rates of two types of CR-39, TASTRAK and BARYOTRAK, for Li-7 ions with incident energies of 4.82, 6.75 and 10.77 MeV have been evaluated from track length measurements. The pit lengths versus the etching time obtained by three different laboratories have the same trend, but did not agree completely. The differences can be attributed to an error margin of less than one decimal point in the etching temperature. Significant deviations were also present for the assessed track etch rates. Most of the deviation was attributed to the derivation step of the growth curves. A sufficient amount of data and reasonably smooth growth curves were required near the Bragg peak in order to make a precise estimation.     

290 AMeV 12C诱发乳胶核反应末态粒子多重数关联

对290 AMeV 12C诱发乳胶核反应末态粒子间的多重数关联进行了研究。实验结果表明:黑径迹粒子、灰径迹粒子、重电离粒子多重数之间存在较强的关联,而且黑径迹粒子和重电离粒子多重数有饱和的趋势,这些特征与高能区实验结果一致;簇射粒子与其他粒子间的关联性较弱,这一特征与高能区实验结果不同,主要归因于弹核能量较低、簇射粒子产额较小;黑径迹粒子、灰径迹粒子在前后半球的平均多重数随靶核的增大而增加;实验结果可用基于碰撞几何的旁观体-反应体模型及级联蒸发模型来解释。We have investigated the multiplicity correlation of particles produced in 12C-emulsion interactions at 290 AMeV. It is found that there is a strong correlation between black track particle, grey track particle and heavily ionized track particle, and finally black track particles and heavily ionized track particles tend to saturation, which is the same as the experimental results observed at high energies. The multiplicity correlation between shower particle and other particles is weaker, which is different from the experimental results observed at high energies. This discriminating character can be explained by the lower energy of projectile. The productivity of shower particle is lower at intermediate energies compared to that at high energies. The forward-backward averaged multiplicity of black track particle and grey track particle increases with the increasing target size.     

SHI induced nano track polymer filters and characterization

Swift heavy ion irradiation produces damage in polymers in the form of latent tracks. Latent tracks can be enlarged by etching it in a suitable etchant and thus nuclear track etch membrane can be formed for gas permeation / purification in particular for hydrogen where the molecular size is very small. By applying suitable and controlled etching conditions well defined tracks can be formed for specific applications of the membranes. After etching gas permeation method is used for characterizing the tracks. In the present work polycarbonate (PC) of various thickness were irradiated with energetic ion beam at Inter University Accelerator Centre (IUAC), New Delhi. Nuclear tracks were modified by etching the PC in 6N NaOH at 60 (±1) °C from both sides for different times to produce track etch membranes. At critical etch time the etched pits from both the sides meet a rapid increase in gas permeation was observed. Permeability of hydrogen and carbon dioxide has been measured in samples etched for different times. The latent tracks produced by SHI irradiation in the track etch membranes show enhancement of free volume of the polymer. Nano filters are separation devices for the mixture of gases, different ions in the solution and isotopes and isobars separations. The polymer thin films with controlled porosity finding it self as best choice. However, the permeability and selectivity of these polymer based membrane filters are very important at the nano scale separation. The Swift Heavy Ion (SHI) induced nuclear track etched polymeric films with controlled etching have been attempted and characterized as nano scale filters.      

Discovery of new etchants for CR-39 detector

After reporting the excellent etching properties of molten Ba(OH)2 8H2O as an etchant, we now report some more new and efficient etchants for CR-39 detector. CR-39 detectors were irradiated with fission fragments and alpha particles with a thin 252Cf source. The irradiated detectors were etched in a number of our newly introduced etching solutions as well as in conventionally used 6 M NaOH at 70 degrees C. The newly prepared etching solutions included NaOH/ethanol and NaOH/1-propanol. Processing conditions were optimized for these etchants. From fission and alpha track diameters, bulk etching velocity (VB), track etching velocity (VT), etching efficiency (eta) and their activation energies were determined and compared with that obtained for 6M NaOH at 70 degrees C.     

Empirical relationship between track diameter and etching time for fission fragments incident on a glass SSNTD at various angles of incidence

Geometrical shapes and diameter of nuclear tracks changes continuously during the process of etching for various incident angles. Besides, there is also a marked difference amongst their profiles, as evidenced by the SEM analysis, when the incoming particles fall on the detector at different angles of incidence. This work outlines this aspect of fission fragment tracks in a glass detector and has set out a few empirical relationship between the mean track diameter, d, and the etching time, t, within experimental limits. This study, therefore, sheds some light in the follow up the origins and chracteristics of heavy ions in some terrestrial and extra-terrestrial materials and also in studying the collimation accuracy of heavy ion bombardments. The implications of the results in discerning the measurements of incident angles of various types of ions are described in detail in the paper.     

Energy loss dependent transversal etching rates of heavy ion tracks in plastic

By the method of electrolytical etching track etching rates V_t and corresponding transversal track etching rates V_trans of single heavy ion tracks in thin Makrofol KG foils have been measured at ion energies from 10–480 MeV/u. Makrofol KG foils of 8 μm thickness were irradiated perpendicular to the surface with ⁷⁹Au and ⁵⁴Xe ions at specific energies with energy loss values of REL=(10–90) ^*10³ MeVcm²/g at GSI Darmstadt, Germany, and Lawrence Berkeley Lab., Cal., USA. Using the electrolytical etching method by measuring the resistance of the foil during the etching process (etching conditions: 6n NaOH, room temperature and controlled 50° C) the breakthrough time and track etching rates V_t, V_trans and V_m (bulk etching rate) were analysed. Response curves (V_t/V_m)-1 as a function of Restricted Energy Loss (REL), the maximum extension of the ion induced damage perpendicular to the ion path and the dimension of the ion track core depending on the deposited energy can be estimated.     

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.     

Track revelation and optical properties of pentaerythritol tetrakis (allyl carbonate) plastic for application as nuclear track detector: effects of gamma radiations

The etching conditions of an indigenously prepared thin film of pentaerythritol tetrakis(allyl carbonate) (PETAC) were standardised for the use as a nuclear track detector. The optimum etching times in 6?N NaOH at 70°C for the appearance of fission and alpha tracks recorded in this detector from a ²⁵²Cf solid source were found to be 30 min and 1.50?h, respectively. The experimentally determined values for the bulk and track-etch rates for this detector in 6?N NaOH at 70°C were found to be 1.7?±?0.1 and 88.4?±?10.7?µm/h, respectively. From these results, the important track etching properties such as the critical angle of etching, the sensitivity and the fission track registration efficiency were calculated and compared with the commercially available detectors. The activation energy value for bulk etching calculated by applying Arrhenius equation to the bulk etch rates of the detector determined at different etching temperatures was found to be 0.86?±?0.02?eV. This compares very well with the value of about 1.0?eV reported for most commonly used track detectors. The effects of gamma irradiation on this new detector in the dose range of 200–1000?kGy have also been studied using bulk etch rate technique. The activation energy values for bulk etching calculated from bulk etch rates measurements at different temperatures were found to decrease with the increase in gamma dose indicating scission of the detector due to gamma irradiation. The optical band gap of this detector was also determined using UV–visible spectrometry and the value was found to be 4.37?±?0.05?eV.     

Detection of energetic light charged particles by solid state nuclear track detectors

Experiments have been carried out to detect ₂ ³He particles and : rotons having energies up to 10 MeV/nucleon by using Kodak CA80-15, cellulose nitrate plastic track detector. Various etching conditions were tried in order to develop tracks for whole of the energy range considered. Detailed analysis seems to indicate that at high energies, the tracks are mainly produced by “secondaries” (elastically scattered nuclei of C, N, O and H, and other reaction products) while in the low energy region, the slowed down “primaries” play the dominant role. The prolonged etching factors of these detectors for different types of tracks have also been obtained and used to derive their average etchable ranges in the materials concerned.     

Calibration of PM-355 nuclear track detectors; comparison of track diameter diagrams with track depth characteristics

The calibration diagrams, i.e. track diameters and track depths versus ion energy and etching time, as obtained for PM-355 track detector irradiated with He-ions are presented. The both detector characteristics are compared. The track etch rate is determined by two methods, as a function of the etch pit depth and the ion energy loss.     

Submicroscopic analysis of tracks in mica

Tracks of 49 MeV ³⁵Cl ions in muscovite mica were analyzed by transmission electron microscopy up to 10 Å resolution applying the track replica method. The enlargement of the track diameter is measured as a function of etching time. The track shape evolution shows circular tracks for very short etching times. By increasing the etching time the tracks gradually become ovals. For longer etching times, tracks show the characteristic rhombic shape of the bulk region. A non monotonous decrease of the track velocity vs. radius is reported. Formation of a low velocity shell in the intermediate region between the central amorphous zone and the non-perturbed crystalline lattice is suggested.     

气泡室中"胚胎"气泡成长为可见气泡的模型建立及初步的理论计算

建立了气泡室中“胚胎”气泡成长为可见气泡模型.初步计算表明,“胚胎”气泡在成长为可见气泡的过程中,它不仅要从其周围吸收热量,而且还有分子进入到它的里面.理论上可以合理解释能量相同的中子和质子入射到气泡室所产生的径迹上的气泡半径是不同的,中子在气泡室中产生的径迹细长,而质子在气泡室中产生的径迹粗短;可以合理解释在同一径迹上某个区域内可以有半径大小相差不多的气泡存在;也可以合理解释电荷数较多的入射粒子较能量相同但电荷数不同的入射粒子,其在气泡室中径迹上气泡的半径要大;理论上预测入射粒子刚进入气泡室时,其径迹上有大气泡破裂现象发生.通过选择合适的工作物质可以提高气泡室的灵敏度和探测效率.     

Influence of external and internal conditions of detector sample treatment on the particle registration sensitivity of Solid State Nuclear Track Detectors of type CR-39

The sensitivity of charged particle registration with SSNTD is the most important parameter to decide about the applicability of those detectors in research, technology and environmental dosimetry. The sensitivity is strongly influenced by the treatment of detector samples before, during and after the exposure and the final evaluation process by chemical etching. Whereas changes in detection properties by external environmental influences are generally considered, the dependences on the etching conditions are ignored. Commonly the sensitivity is assumed to compensate variations in the etching conditions for track revealing. In the present work the validity of this hypothesis will be checked. In the frame of the existing database the sensitivity is not really independent on variations in etching temperatures and should be corrected for differences in the activation energies for stimulation of the bulk and track etching process. Differences in the concentration dependence may be of minor importance. Furthermore, the registration sensitivity depends on environmental conditions before, during and after the irradiation with particles under investigation. Such external parameters are the air pressure, the sample temperature and modification of bulk material by out-gassing in vacuum and exposure to γ-rays. However, the available database is insufficient and inaccurate to draw final conclusions on the detection properties of SSNTD under various external and internal conditions.