Study of fossil tracks due to VH and VVH groups of cosmic ray nuclei in olivine crystals from Luna-16 and Luna-24

The olivine crystals from lunar regolith samples taken by the Soviet unmanned spacecrafts Luna-16 and Luna-24 were investigated. Eleven 0.5 –1.0 mm size olivine crystals were mounted in epoxy, polished and then etched in modified WO₄ solution. The Fe-group track densities up to 10⁸ tracks.cm⁻² (Fe-group) were measured under optical microscope. The tracks of length greater than 30 microns due to Z ≥ 36 cosmic ray nuclei are counted for VVH tracks density for all the crystals. The VVH / VH track densities ratio for these lunar olivine crystals varies from 1.25×10⁻⁴ to 2×10⁻³. It corresponds to the averaged depth of these crystals in lunar soil of 2–8 cm during galactic cosmic ray exposure. Lunar crystals are well suited for VVH track studies due to a very high track density. Two crystals were annealed at 430°C for 32 hrs. This procedure eliminates iron group tracks completely and leaves etchable tracks of nuclei with Z 50 even in the olivine crystals with Fe-group tracks up to 1–2×10⁸ tracks cm⁻². We were able to measure two tracks with the length 195 and 210μm which were produced by Th---U group of Galactic cosmic ray nuclei.     

A new method to measure track density and to differentiate nuclear tracks in CR-39 detectors

An alternative method to count and differentiate nuclear tracks in SSNTD is described. The method is based on the analysis of Fraunhofer diffraction pattern of coherent light produced by tracks of an etched SSNT detector. The diffraction pattern was also simulated by applying computational Fourier Optics. The comparison between results obtained by simulation and by the theoretical model gave satisfactory concordance. The proposed method is capable of differentiating tracks in CR-39 by their diameter and energies. The diameter resolution ranged between 8% and 25%, while the counting error was less than 15%. The discriminating ability to distinguish genuine etched tracks from defects and background anomalies is demonstrated. The incidence angle did not influence significantly the total count and the track parameter measuring capability. Errors due to track overlapping are only significant for track densities higher than 3×10⁵ cm⁻².     

Observation of diffusion through ion irradiated Makrofol KG

The features of the latent track in polycarbonate can be analysed by measuring the diffusion constant under ultra high vacuum conditions. Stacks of 30 μm Makrofol KG foils were irradiated with uranium ions of 11.4 MeV/u at the GSI Darmstadt, Germany. We used different fluences from 3·10¹⁰ to 5·10¹¹ ions/cm². The diffusion constant was determined by the time-lag-method [1]. A quadrupole mass filter was used to observe the diffusion of the gas. We measured the diffusion of argon through different foils of each stack at room temperature. In all cases also unirradiated foils were measured. The dependence of the permeability and the diffusion constant on the ion fluence and the energy loss of the ions will be given and indications on the size of latent ion tracks concerning gas diffusion will be discussed.     

An automatic image analysis system for the evaluation of dielectric track detectors

The automatic image analysis system for scanning solid state nuclear track detectors is designed by utilizing a microdensitometer. The control of the entire system as well as the data analysis are accomplished with the IBM PC computer equipped with a FrameGrabber. The system counts the number of tracks and measures their geometrical parameters. The usage of the system is illustrated by counting rhombic tracks in mica detectors which were used for the investigation of the fusion–fission reaction ¹²C+ ²⁰⁸Pb.     

Studies on recoil proton tracks in NTA films with the T(d,n)He reaction

Recoil proton tracks in nuclear emulsion are counted by scanning them using strip, square or circular field of view of optical microscope. In this paper, the overestimate due to the edge effects in counting recoil proton tracks at different neutron energies produced from the T(d,n)⁴He reaction has been determined by measuring the true track density in NTA film. The overestimate has also been calculated using the measured value of the mean projected track length (L) in the film. The percentage of measured overestimates has been compared with those obtained by calculation and the results agree reasonably well. Fading effect in NTA film has been studied and found to be 22% more in the summer than in the winter season. A great reduction in fading rate could be achieved if the films are desiccated and sealed in highly pure dry nitrogen maintained at an over-pressure of 1000 Pa to reduce water vapour ingress. After the edge effect correction, the sensitivity of NTA film has been calculated from (1.72±0.08)×10⁻³ tracksn⁻¹ to (1.97±0.16)×10⁻³ tracksn⁻¹ in the neutron energy ranges from 15.91 to 18.88 MeV. The response was found to be from 0.24±0.02 trackscm⁻² permSv to 0.26±0.01 trackscm⁻² permSv in the same energy range.     

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.     

Textual and shape-based feature extraction and neuro-fuzzy classifier for nuclear track recognition

Track counting algorithms as one of the fundamental principles of nuclear science have been emphasized in the recent years. Accurate measurement of nuclear tracks on solid-state nuclear track detectors is the aim of track counting systems. Commonly track counting systems comprise a hardware system for the task of imaging and software for analysing the track images. In this paper, a track recognition algorithm based on 12 defined textual and shape-based features and a neuro-fuzzy classifier is proposed. Features are defined so as to discern the tracks from the background and small objects. Then, according to the defined features, tracks are detected using a trained neuro-fuzzy system. Features and the classifier are finally validated via 100 Alpha track images and 40 training samples. It is shown that principle textual and shape-based features concomitantly yield a high rate of track detection compared with the single-feature based methods.     

A passive radon dosimeter based on the combination of a track etch detector and activated charcoal

The aim of this work is to test a combination of a Makrofol track detector with a new type of charcoal (Carboxen-564) to design a personal radon dosimeter. The intention is to use this dosimeter as a personal radon dosimeter to measure the monthly radon exposure in workplaces, especially when the occupancy is not ecactly known. The proposed combination was exposed to low and high concentrations of radon in a large range of relative humidity (RH). For the optimal layer thickness, a charcoal bed of 2.2 mm, a specific track density of 5.1 tracks cm⁻²/kBq h m⁻³ was obtained. For a monthly working exposure (170 h) at an average radon concentration of 100 Bq/m³, this means 87 tracks/cm² or 10 times the background of the Makrofol detector, with a statistical uncertainty of 15%.     

A new method for measuring tracks density in CR-39 detectors by compensating for overlapping tracks

CR-39 nuclear track detectors have been used as an efficient radon monitoring system. Exposing these detectors to radon would result in tracks where ever particles hit the surface of the detector. Natural radioactivity of alpha particles (radon concentration) is measured based on the count of these tracks on CR-39 detector. Counting these tracks by eye is not an easy task especially when the density of the tracks is high. Automated tracks counting systems are attractive solution for this problem. However, as the density of tracks increases the accuracy of these methods deteriorates. This is due to the fact that overlapped tracks are counted as one track during the segmentation process resulting in an underestimation of the real count of the tracks. This work proposes a new image processing based automated approach for tracks counting. This new automated approach solves the problem of counting overlapping tracks by approximating their number and then adjusting the final count of tracks by compensating for those uncounted tracks. The experimental results show that the proposed approach reduces the counting percentage error from 5.64% to 2.54% by solving the counting problem of the overlapped tracks.     

Application of CR-39 detectors for study of corpuscular emission from Prague capillary pinch

The paper describes experimental studies of the corpuscular emission from fast Z-pinch discharges, which were performed within the CAPEX capillary pinch facility in Prague, Czech Republic. Time-integrated measurements were carried out with an ion pinhole camera equipped with CR-39 nuclear track detectors. Irradiated detectors were etched at the standard conditions, and developed tracks were analysed with an optical microscope coupled with a CCD camera. It was found that the fast capillary discharges emit strong corpuscular streams. On the basis of the optical analysis of the etched detectors it was estimated that the time-integrated particle flux, at the distance of 20 cm from the collimator outlet, was about 3.5×10⁷ particles/cm²/pulse. Particular attention was paid to analysis of ion-track photos, which were obtained by means of an electron microscope. Details of the ion micro-craters have been observed in the photos of fractures of the CR-39 detectors after their 7 h etching.     

Distribution of indoor radon levels in mexico

Our laboratory has carried out a systematic monitoring and evaluation of indoor radon concentration levels in Mexico for ten years. The results of the distribution of indoor radon levels for practically the entire country are presented, together with information on geological characteristics, population density, socioeconomic levels of the population, and architectural styles of housing.

The measurements of the radon levels were made using the passive method of nuclear tracks in solids with the end-cup system. CR-39 was used as the detector material in combination with a one-step chemical etching procedure and an automatic digital-image counting system. Wherever a high level was measured, a confirming measurement was made using a dynamic method. The results are important for future health studies, including the eventual establishment of patterns for indoor radon concentration, as it has been done in the USA and Europe.     

Use of neutron-activation techniques for studying elemental distributions: applications in geochemistry, ecology and technology

The radiography method is developed for the investigation of ionizing radiation sources distribution on the sample surface by means of a two-dimensional image, produced in a photoemulsion or dielectric track detector. Its sensitivity is within a range of 10⁻² - 10⁻⁷ g/mm² and resolution from 0.01 to 100 μm. Statistical analysis and computer processing of the radiographic images have allowed us to solve the two main tasks of the method, namely, the determination the true distributions of ionizing radiation sources on the surface and the quantitative estimation of the local content of different chemical elements within a given accuracy.     

New developments on electrochemical etching processes at the atomic energy organization of Iran

Some highlights of new developments made in our laboratory at the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran on chemical and electrochemical etching (ECE) of polymer track detectors like polycarbonate (PC) are presented. They include introduction of new ECE chamber systems and methods for production of ECE signs and symbols, and a new versatile ECE chamber (VECE) system for multi-purpose, multi-size, and/or multi-shape detector processing; determination of photoneutron doses in and around high-energy X-ray beams of a 20 MV medical accelerator; verification of the Smythe and Mason equations for ECE of tracks in polymers; ECE of alpha and recoil tracks in PC using PMW, PEW and PEMW etchants; introduction of a novel method using ethylene diamine for treatment of PC detectors with its applications, for example in precision removal of surface layers of PC (e.g. bulk removal rates of about 0.04, 0.15, 0.36, 0.66, and 1.33 mm min⁻¹ for 60%, 65%, 70%, 75% and 80% ethylene diamine solution (v/v) in water respectively, with no effects on its transparency), and in significant reduction of background track density of PC detectors, in alpha energy discrimination and alpha spectrometry; and development of an image processing system for track counting and measurements; etc. Some main results are reviewed and discussed.     

Ionizing particles may create shockwaves

To find a model that describes the gas diffusion on irradiated polymers (Makrofol KG polycarbonate) the diffusion constants have been measured with argon as diffusion gas. The polymers were irradiated with uranium, gold and lead ions of about 10 MeV/u and ion fluences between 1×10¹⁰ and 4×10¹¹ ions/cm². The ion irradiated probes show two quite different dependencies of the diffusion constant on the ion energy loss. These effects are strongly related to the fluence of the irradiation. In case of low ion fluences, the diffusion constant is up to 8 times higher than that of pristine material. In the probes with high ion fluences we observe a decrease of diffusion constant to half the value of the pristine material. To understand the dependence of the diffusion constant on ion fluences we apply a model of compacting. This model describes the compacting ability of shockwaves arising from latent tracks. A track formation model is suggested. When an ion penetrates the foil it creates shockwaves around its path. These shockwaves put compacting forces on earlier created latent tracks in the same foil.     

Boron determination in tourmaline by neutron induced radiography

The technique of neutron induced radiography has been applied to determine the boron concentration and its spatial distribution in mineral tourmaline collected from Swat Tourmaline Granite, Northern Pakistan. The technique involves the simultaneous irradiation of sample and a standard fixed on a track detector with thermal neutrons and the counting of alpha and ⁷Li tracks produced in the detector from the nuclear reaction ¹⁰B(n,)⁷Li. Boron concentration is determined by comparing the ⁷Li and alpha particle tracks density with that of a standard of known boron concentration. Boron concentration in tourmaline has been found to be (3.40±0.01)% in this study which is on the upper side within the normal range (2.5–3.8)% reported in the world. The presence of somewhat higher concentration of boron in tourmaline indicates that the Swat Tourmaline Granite was generated as a late stage hydrothermal activity during the Himalayan Orogeny.     

CVD法单层MoS2在209Bi离子辐照下的损伤效应研究

通过光学显微镜、拉曼光谱确定了CVD（化学气相沉积法）制备的不同厚度MoS₂的层数,采用拉曼分析结合原子力显微镜观测分析了由HIRFL提供的高能209Bi离子辐照CVD制备的单层MoS₂样品随辐照注量的损伤规律。随辐照注量增加,E_2g1和A_1g两种声子振动模式对应的拉曼峰逐渐蓝移,且拉曼特征峰强度减弱,这是由于带正电荷的209Bi辐照产生潜径迹型晶格缺陷吸附空气中氧分子而引入p型掺杂引起的。同时,在辐照注量为5×1010 ions/cm2的单层MoS₂的AFM图像中观察到潜径迹主要以凹坑形式出现,与机械剥离法观测到的凸起径迹明显不同,分析了不同制备工艺对径迹形貌的影响。比较了机械剥离法制备MoS₂样品的拉曼光谱和AFM成像的实验数据和结果,认为不同制备方法会影响单层或少层MoS₂的电子密度。The layer number of MoS₂ with different thickness was determined by the optical microscope and Raman spectra. And the damage effect of the CVD (chemical vapor deposition) prepared single-layer MoS₂ sample irradiated by 209Bi ions was analyzed by the combination of Raman analysis and AFM observations. With the increase of irradiation fluence, the Raman characteristic peaks of E_2g1 and A_1g corresponding to both phonon vibration modes gradually bluely shift, and the intensity of the peaks obviously decreased. This is due to the fact that the 209Bi ion irradiation results in the latent track type lattice defects and they adsorb the oxygen molecules in the air ended with the p-type doping. Meanwhile, from the AFM image of the mono-layer of irradiated MoS₂ under the 5×1010 ions/cm2, it can been seen that latent tracks mainly occur in the form of pits, which different from the hillock tracks observed by mechanical stripping method. The influence of different preparation technology to the track morphology is analyzed. Compared with the Raman and AFM results of MoS₂ prepared by mechanical stripping, it is considered that different preparation methods will affect the electron density in single or few layers of MoS₂.     

Measurements of radon concentration in soil gas by CR-39 detectors

A miniature diffusion chamber with a 25 × 4 × 0.5 mm CR-39 track etch detector (Pershore Moulding Ltd.), mounted on the 1.1 m long pole has been developed for radon gas measurements at 1 meter depth in the soil. For chemically etched CR-39 (7h, 70°C NaOH) and automatic track analysis the lowest detection limit of the chamber was found to be 0.5 MBq h m⁻³ and the useful exposure range from 2 to 20 MBq h m⁻³. The typical exposure time in the soil is between 2 to 14 days. The chamber was tested against the active AlphaGUARD PQ-2000 (Genitron Instruments GmbH) probe. The test yielded consistent results for soils with typical values of permeability and which are not miniature with water. The pilot measurements of radon gas in soil conducted with the miniature diffusion chambers around 48 buildings in Kraków and Silesia regions yielded an average radon concentration of 13 kBq m⁻³. The chambers are to be applied to measure radon concentration in soil before constructing new houses in order to avoid high radon risk areas.     

地面核磁偏共振响应特征与复包络反演方法

地面核磁共振(surface nuclear magnetic resonance,SNMR)方法在地下水探测领域具有直接、定量和解释唯一等优势,但是由于地磁场存在不均匀、随时间变化和易受噪声影响等难以确定的问题,导致偏共振激发,严重影响反演结果的准确性.本文基于地面核磁偏共振(surface nuclear magnetic off-resonance,SNMOR)模型和相应的核函数表达式,讨论了频率偏量对偏共振信号的影响,并提出了基于系统相位自动搜索和信号实部与虚部同时参与的复包络反演方法.通过仿真模型和反演结果对比得到:偏共振信号相位随频率的增加而增大,仿真模型中的信号幅度最大提高了65.9%;当频率偏量大于2 Hz时,利用SNMOR核函数的反演结果的准确度明显优于SNMR核函数的结果;当噪声较大时,复包络方法充分利用测量数据的有用信息,比常规幅度反演具有更高的稳定性和可靠性.最后,通过野外实测数据和反演结果,验证了本文提出的SNMOR模型和复包络反演方法的有效性和准确性,为地下水探测领域提供了新的技术手段.     

Effect of secondary electrons from latent tracks created in YBCO by swift heavy ion irradiation

Swift heavy ions (SHI) with electronic energy loss exceeding a value of 14.4 keVnm⁻¹ create amorphized latent tracks in YBCO type superconductors. In the low fluence regime of an ion beam where tracks do not overlap, a decrease of the superconducting transition temperature as probed through resistivity studies, is not expected due to availability of percolating current paths. The present study however shows T_c decrease by about 1–3 K in thin films of YBCO when irradiated by 250 MeVAg ions at 79 K at a fluence of 5×10¹⁰–1×10¹² ionscm⁻². The highest fluence used in the present study is three times less than the fluence where track overlapping becomes significant. The T_c tends to increase towards the preirradiation value on annealing the films at room temperature. To explain this unusual result, we consider the effect of ion irradiation in inducing materials modification not only through creation of amorphized latent tracks along the ion path, but also through creation of atomic disorder in the oxygen sublattice in the Cu–O chains of YBCO by the secondary electrons. These electrons are emitted radially from the tracks during the passage of the SHI. Considering the correlation between the charge state of copper and its oxygen coordination, we show in particular that the latter process is a consequence of the inelastic interaction of the SHI induced low-energy secondary electrons with the YBCO lattice, which result in chain oxygen disorder and T_c decrease.     

Detection, dosimetry and microdosimetry using high energy C beams

Samples of polyallyldiglycolcarbonate (PADC) track etch detectors (TED) were exposed to high energy ¹²C nuclei at the particle beam of the Dubna synchrophasotron. The energy of ¹²C nuclei varied between 0.1 and 1.5 GeV per amu.

At the low studied energies the linear energy transfer (LET) of these nuclei is higher than the detector threshold value. Then, the primary particle tracks are directly etched in the detector surface. The detection efficiency approaches to 100% at perpendicular incidence. Their LET has been established by means of standard authomatized procedure recently developed. The LET values found here are in good agreement with theoretical ones.

At 1.5 GeV per amu (LET 8.4 KeV μm⁻¹) the secondary particle tracks were evaluated in all the exposed detectors. The energy deposited by these particles was compared to the energy deposited through primary ionization losses. It was found out that its contribution to the total dose is relatively lower than for protons of comparable energies. In some of these samples even the tracks of the primary nuclei were observed. It follows that the detection threshold of the developed LET spectrometer should be below 10 keV μm⁻¹.