Chemical composition of the primary cosmic rays near the top of the atmosphere

Summary A stack of CR-39 (HCB 0.5%) passive solid-state nuclear track detectors were irradiated by primary cosmic rays near the top of the atmosphere. The stack of detectors were flown by balloons launched from Alice Springs, Australia in 1983. After 16 h 41 min flight exposure at an atmospheric pressure of 9.5 mb the plates were collected and chemically etched in 6.7 N NaOH aqueous solution at 70°C for 27 hours. The diameter distribution of the 1208 etch pits caused by the presence of heavy ions in primary cosmic rays was measured by a transmitted light Leitz Ortholux microscope having an objective×10 and a×15 filar micrometer eyepiece attachment. The diameter distribution was standardised and calibrated against the conventional cosmic-ray results found by Tasakaet al. The estimated charge spectrum is in accord with the nuclear emulsion data of Daniel and Durgaprasad, Kristianssonet al., Saito and Chohanet al.     

Estimation of chemical abundance of primary cosmic-ray nuclei over Alice Springs using balloon-borne passive detectors

Summary A stack consisting of CR-39 (HCB 0.5%), nuclear emulsions and X-ray films was exposed to primary cosmic rays by a balloon lauched from Alice Springs in 1983 and was flown for 32 hours at an atmospheric depth 9.8 g cm⁻² air. The recovered plastic plates were etched in 7.5 N NaOH solution at 80°C for 96 hours. The major and minor axes of the elliptic etch pits were analysed. About 1112 elliptic etch pits were scanned. The measured integral flux of very heavy (VH) and Fe nuclei above 3.5 GeV/n are in approximate aggreement with the earlier survey of Dokeet al., but yield a flatter energy spectrum when compared to the recent high-energy extrapolated spectrum of Zatsepinet al. The charges of the detected heavy nuclei were also confirmed from delta-ray counting of heavily ionized tracks in nuclear emulsions. The energy of the incident heavy nuclei has been measured from the distribution of opening angles of alpha fragments initiated by heavy nuclei in nuclear emulsions.     

Investigation of the very heavy cosmic abundances at source estimated from balloon-borne passive-detector results over alice springs

Summary A detailed study on the relative abundances of very heavy elements of cosmic rays with charges 10≤Z≤28 in the interstellar medium has been estimated from the results obtained from the balloon-borne passive-detector experiments flown for 32 hours from Alice Springs. The recovered CR-39 (HCB) detectors were etched for 96 hours in 7.5N NaOH solution at 80°C. About 2126 elliptic etch pit cones were scanned from the 250 cm² area of the track detector and the chemical abundances of elements with charges 10≤Z≤28 above 2 GeV/n have been estimated. We have adopted the charge-changing cross-sections calculated from the abrasion/ablation model after Norbury and duly fitted in the slab model to account for the loss of intensity due to nuclear fragmentation in the upper atmosphere. The predicted source composition is comparable with the derived result of Lezniak and Webber. Our result on (Sc−Cr)/Fe flux ratio at 6.52 GeV/n energy is in accord with the results derived from the leaky-box model.     

Investigation of neutron emission from relativistic heavy ion interactions by nuclear tracks

Fast neutrons produced in 44 and 22 GeV ¹²C+Cu interactions have been recorded and analysed with a CR-39 detector stack. The irradiation of the CR-39 stack to fast neutrons was carried out at the accelerator Synchrophasotron, Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, Dubna, Russia. Areal and volume densities of tracks induced by fast neutrons in the CR-39 at different positions and for different etching time have been measured. The neutron production ratio of 44 GeV to 22 GeV ¹²C+Cu interactions has been obtained, which is 2.17 ± 0.30 by areal track density, or 2. 12±0.33 by step etch technique, or 2.03±0.34 by volume track density measurement. These results confirm that the production rate at 44 GeV ¹²C+Cu interactions is more than theoretical estimation.     

Measurements of neutron yields and spatial distributions in U/Pb, Pb and Hg thick targets bombarded by 0.5 and 1.0 GeV protons

Measurements have been carried out on neutron yields and spatial distributions in U/Pb, Pb and Hg thick targets and the surrounding paraffin moderators bombarded by 0.533 and 1.0 GeV protons. CR-39 detectors were deployed on the surfaces of targets and moderators to record the neutrons produced in the targets. The measurements show that:

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Calibration of CR-39 with atomic force microscope for the measurement of short range tracks from proton-induced target fragmentation reactions

We studied the track response of CR-39 plastic nuclear track detectors (PNTD) for low (<6 MeV/n) and high (>100 MeV/n) energy heavy ions using the atomic force microscope (AFM). CR-39 PNTD was exposed to several heavy ion beams of different energy at HIMAC (Heavy Ion Medical Accelerator in Chiba). For AFM measurement, the amount of bulk etch was controlled to be ∼2 μm in order to avoid etching away of short range tracks. The response data obtained by AFM for ∼2 μm bulk etch was in good agreement with data obtained by the conventional optical microscope analysis for larger bulk etch. The response data from low energy beams (stopping near the surface) was also consistent with the data from high energy beams (penetrating the detector) as a function of REL (restricted energy loss) with the δ-ray cut off energy of ω₀ = 200 eV. We experimentally verified that REL (ω₀ = 200 eV) gives a universal function for wide energy range in CR-39 PNTD. This work has been done as part of a basic study in the measurement of secondary short range tracks produced by target fragmentation reactions in proton cancer therapy fields.     

Study of large fragments of uranium projectiles of energy 0.927 GeV/n in Al target

Summary A stack consisting of CR-39(DOP) detector with 2.6 cm Al target was exposed to a²³⁸U beam of energy 0.927 GeV/n from LBL BEVALAC to study the large-fragmentation phenomena during U+Al interaction. The diameter distribution of the etch pits formed in the plastic detectors for the first three projectile fragments of chargeZ _F≥89 yields the partial cross-section data which is comparable to the data obtained from the cone length distribution. The present result on the partial cross-section is significantly higher than those expected from the abrasion-ablation model of Wilson, Townsed and Badavi (1987). The authors of this paper have agreed not to receive the proofs for correction.     

Derivation of muon spectrum at high energies from the recent JACEE primary cosmic-ray spectrum using Fermilab data on meson production

Summary The energy spectrum of sea level muons in the range (10²÷10⁴) GeV has been calculated from the latest directly measured JACEE primary spectrum using Fermilab results on pp→π^± X and pp→K^± X inclusive reactions. The conventional pion atmospheric diffusion equation after Bugaevet al. has been used in this analysis to account the flux of muons emerged from the multiple generation of mesons in air. The derived muon spectrum has been compared with the earlier magnetic spectrograph data of Durham and Kiel groups. The latest BAKSAN scintillator telescope data is well in agreement with the calculated integral spectrum originated from the meson decays in the range (1÷10⁴) GeV.     

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.     

3-D Confocal microscopy track analysis: a promising tool for determining CR-39 response function

A new method based on the use of the confocal microscope is described in order to evaluate the CR-39 response function for Li-7 ions with an incident energy of 10.77 MeV. This method uses the formulations developed by Fromm et al. and considers two etching velocities: V_B represents the bulk etch rate and remains constant, and V_T the track etch rate, which varies along the particle's path. The confocal microscope seems to bring big improvements for track analysis. The first results of V_T versus the particle range are presented and compared with the curves obtained by the sequential etching method. The obtained V_T are plotted and compared to LET, REL₃₅₀ and the cumulative radial dose.     

Post-irradiation sensitization of CR-39 track detector in carbon dioxide atmosphere

The effect of post-irradiation treatment of CR-39 track detector in carbon dioxide atmosphere on the alpha particle registration sensitivity was investigated. Significant increase in etch rate ratio for 6.1 MeV ²⁵²Cf alpha particle was observed. The sensitization increasedboth as a function of trating time and as a function of carbon dioxide pressure in the treating vessel. Energy dependence of the sensitization was found to be small in the 2–9 MeV alpha particle energy interval. Fading of latent tracks after the sensitization process was slow in a one day period. Pre-irradiation treatment in carbon dioxide showed also some sensitization, though to a lesser extent than post-irradiation treatment. However, exposing CR-39 alpha particles in pure carbon dioxide atmosphere resulted in dramatic decrease in sensitivity. The role of dissolved oxygen and carbon dioxide in the primary latent track formation and in post-irradiation latent track transformation is discussed. Potential influence of the application of sensitization of CR-39 in radon, neutron and cosmic ray charged particle dosimetry is also discussed.     

Sea Level Muon Spectrum Derived from the All Particle Primary Spectrum of GRIGOROV et al.

The all particle primary spectrum of GRIGOROV et al. surveyed by HILLAS has been fitted by a power law fit of the form I_{all particle}(>E) = 1.3 E^?1.65 (cm² s sr)^?1 where E is the energy in GeV/nucleus. Using our recently determined conversion factor for protonnuclei flux ratio of equal energies the primary proton spectrum has been calculated and the result agrees with the Goddard Space Flight Centre primary proton spectrum data satisfactorily. The primary nucleon spectrum has also been calculated and follows the form N_nucleons(E) dE = 2.664 E^?2.75 dE (cm² s sr GeV/nucleon)^?1. Using this primary nucleon spectrum as the source of hadrons and accelerator data for various inclusive reactions viz. used for the estimation of hadronic energy moments in the frame work of FEYNMAN- Scaling, the differential meson spectra have been estimated. The meson atmospheric diffusion equation after Bugaev et al. has been considered for the derivation of sea level muon spectrum. The magnetic spectrograph data of Allkofer et al., Ayre et al., Green et al., and MUTRON group are in accord with the calculated muon spectrum.     

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.     

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.     

Dosimetry of 40 and 70 MeV/n O beams

Using CR-39 plastic track detectors the range values of ¹⁶O ions at two different energies (initially in the beam line, 39.97 MeV/n and 69.98 MeV/n) were measured after escaping the beam pipe and found to be (3050 ± 40) μm and (8210 ± 90) μm, respectively. The longitudinal and projected angular spread of oxygen ions of an initial energy of 69.98 MeV/n in the region of the Bragg peak was derived from the measured geometrical parameters of tracks. Based on a calibration curve (etch rate ratio vs total linear energy transfer in CR-39) and the measured track length distribution at the range end of oxygen ions, the complete depth dose profile of a 67.7 MeV/n ¹⁶O beam in CR-39 (plateau, extended Bragg peak and residual ionization caused by projectile like fragments) was obtained.     

Activation energy of etching for CR-39 as a function of linear energy transfer of the incident particles

In this work, we have studied the effect of the radiation damage caused by the incident particles on the activation energy of etching for CR-39 samples. The damage produced by the incident particle is expressed in terms of the linear energy transfer (LET). CR-39 samples from American Acrylic were irradiated to three different LET particles. These are N (LET₂₀₀ = 20 KeV/μm) as a light particle, Fe (LET₂₀₀ = 110 KeV/μm) as a medium particle and fission fragments (ff) from a ²⁵²Cf source as heavy particles. In general the bulk etch rate was calculated using the weight difference method and the track etch rate was determined using the track geometry at various temperatures (50–90 °C) and concentrations (4–9 N) of the NaOH etchant. The average activation energy F_b related to the bulk etch rate v_b was calculated from ln v_b vs. l/T. The average activation energy E_t related to the track etch rate v_t was estimated from ln v_t vs. l/T. It is shown that activation energy of etching is a constant value for CR-39 detector where E_t was found to be independent on the damage produced by the incident particle.     

Direct determination of track etch rate and response of CR-39 to normal incidence high-energy heavy ions

Response of CR-39 to high-energy heavy ions was investigated by using optical microphotographs of track profiles for Ar (480 MeV/n) and Ni (300 MeV/n). The depth dependence of track etch rate (V_T) was determined experimentally by track length measurement. The results indicate that V_T for the low REL Ar tracks is depth independent but for the high REL Ni tracks V_T is gradually decreasing with depth. The region beyond 30 μm depth inside the detector shows a stable region regarding the detector response for both ions.     

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.     

Derivation of vertical muon spectra at superhigh energies from our predicted primary cosmic-ray spectrum using machine interaction parameters and Feynman scaling hypothesis

Summary The vertical differential and integral, muon spectra at super-high energies,viz. up to 10 TeV have been estimated from our predicted primary spectrum of the formN(E)dE=2.4E ^−2.7dE (cm²s sr GeV)⁻¹. The accelerator data of Johnsonet al., Elbertet al. have been used for the evaluation of fractional hadronic energy moments. By using the conventional Feynman scaling hypothesis and the meson atmospheric diffusion equation after Bugaevet al., the differential and integral muon spectra have been estimated and the results are well in accord with the experimental data of Bakeret al., Allkoferet al., Ayreet al., Aminevaet al., Menon and Ramana Murthy, and Sheldonet al. in the spectral range (0.1÷10) TeV.     

Studies on elemental charge-changing cross-section for relativistic U+Al collisions using CR-39 (DOP) detector

Summary A search has been made on the charge-changing partial cross-sections by using 0.927 GeV/n²³⁸U ion from LBL BEVALAC projected at an angle 30° on²⁷Al target and CR-39 (DOP) was used as analyser. The irradiated plastic sheets were duly etched for one hour in 6.25N NaOH solution and about 1680 cone lengths at both the surfaces of the CR-39 (DOP) sheets were optically measured. The cone length distribution exhibits the existence of U fragments in the charge range 84≤Z≤91 and the estimated partial cross-sections range from 60 to 400 mb. The present data are in accord with the fit to the extrapolated data of Binnset al.