Comparison of responses of LR-115A, CR-39 and PM-355 track detectors to pulsed low-energy proton streams

The paper concerns applications of LR-115A, CR-39 and PM-355 solid-state nuclear-track detectors (SSNTDs) for investigation of pulsed fluxes of protons below 300 keV. The proton streams were generated by the RPI-IBIS device operated with hydrogen puffing [Baranowski et al. 2000. Studies of hydrogen discharges in RPI-type devices with different electrode configurations. Czech. J. Phys. 50 (Suppl. S3), 101–107]. To perform ion mass- and energy-analysis, a Thomson mass-spectrometer equipped with a special input system and exchangeable detectors was used. A quantitative analysis of proton tracks upon Thomson parabolas was performed by means of an optical microscope equipped with a CCD camera. It made possible to measure proton tracks and to determine their statistics. The paper presents proton energy spectra recorded with the selected detectors, and responses of these detectors to protons of energy from about 30 to 300 keV. The results are important for verification of detector characteristics and for measurements of protons at different experimental conditions.     

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.     

Low-energy ion measurements by means of CR-39 nuclear track detectors

The paper presents an additional acceleration system, used to shift up an ion energy spectrum by 20 keV, and some examples of the ion parabolas registered by means of a Thomson-type spectrometer within the rod plasma injector (RPI-60) facility, designed for plasma physics and application studies. The use of the described acceleration system and CR-39 track detectors has enabled the registration of ions of energy above 20 keV to be performed. It made possible to measure the ion (e.g. deuteron) energy spectrum more exactly in the low-energy range, what is important for the determination of ion emission characteristics.     

Investigation of response of CR-39, PM-355 and PM-500 types of nuclear track detectors to energetic carbon ions

Samples of CR-39, PM-355, and PM-500 plastic detectors were irradiated with carbon ions of energy ranging from 0.9 MeV to 14.7 MeV. After the irradiation the detector samples were etched for a period from 2 hrs to 10 hrs. Dependence of track diameters on the ion energy values for different etching times, and dependence of V_T/V_B as a function of incident carbon-ion energy, are presented.     

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.     

Changes induced in structure and optical properties of PM-355 nuclear track detector due to laser irradiation

PM-355 is a class of polymeric solid-state nuclear track detectors which has a lot of applications in several radiation detection fields. Samples from sheets of PM-355 have been exposed to infrared (IR) laser fluences ranging from 1 to 12.8?J/cm². The effect of IR laser radiation on the structural properties of PM-355 has been investigated using X-ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The results indicate that the samples exhibit chain scission under the effect of laser irradiation up to 4.2?J/cm², thus producing free radicals that led to the formation of new bonds started and continued until 12.8?J/cm². This reduces the ordering structure, giving the PM-355 polymer more resilience. In addition, the laser irradiation at the fluence range 4.2–12.8?J/cm² led to a more compact structure of PM-355, which resulted in an improvement in its isotropic nature with an increase in Vickers hardness and refractive index. Further, the color changes due to laser irradiation were computed using the transmission data in the wavelength range of 370–780?nm. It is found that the color intensity, which is the color difference between the irradiated samples and the non-irradiated one, increases with increasing the laser fluence, largely depending on the proportions of the blue color component.     

Spatial structure and energy spectrum of ion beams studied with CN detectors within a small PF device

The paper reports the application of Solid-State Nuclear Track Detectors to study the pulsed plasma-ion streams emitted from plasma-focus (PF) type discharges, which were performed within a low-energy PACO device constructed at Instituto de Fisica Arroyo Seco. The PACO device was operated under static initial gas conditions or with dynamic gas puffing. Studies of the structure of the fast deuteron beams were carried out within an energy range from 80 keV to about 2 MeV. Studies of ion energy and an ion angular distribution were also performed. The measurements showed that the fast deuterons are emitted in many “narrow” micro-beams, as in other larger PF devices. The anisotropy of the deuteron angular distribution was explained by the stochastic character of the formation of local ion sources within the PF discharge column.     

Comparison of responses of CR-39, PM-355, and CN track detectors to energetic hydrogen-, helium-, nitrogen-, and oxygen-ions

Samples made of the CR-39 and PM-355 plastic nuclear track detectors (NTDs) as well as of the CN films were irradiated with quasi-monoenergetic beams of protons, alphas, N⁺-, and O⁺-ions produced by various accelerators. For different samples an energy value of the particle beams was changed from several hundreds keV to 3 or 4.5 MeV. After irradiation the detector samples were etched chemically under controlled conditions during periods lasting from 2 hrs to 20 hrs. Every 2 hrs track diameters were measured by means of an optical microscope. Differences in the crater diameters in the detectors etched in steps, and those etched continously, have been found to be smaller than 10 percent. The paper results detailed calibration diagrams showing a dependence of track diameters on the ion energy value for different etching times.     

Application of solid-state nuclear track detectors for studies of fast ion beams within PF-1000 and other plasma-focus facilities

The paper presents results of studies of the fast ion emission from two plasma facilities: PF-1000 and PF-II. The measurements were carried out mainly with solid-state nuclear track detectors (SSNTDs). To register ion mass- and energy-spectra, obtained when primary ion beams are deflected by magnetic and electric fields of a Thomson-type spectrometer, the SSNTDs plates were installed inside the analyzer. To measure ion angular distributions the SSNTDs were located within the main discharge chamber, at different angles to the electrode axis. The SSNTDs were also applied to register ion beam images formed within an ion pinhole camera, and to determine a spatial location of the fast ion sources.     

Comparison of responses of CR-39 and PM-355 track detectors to fast protons, deuterons and He ions within energy range 0.2–4.5 MeV

The paper presents new results of the calibration of the standard CR-39 and super-grade PM-355 plastic detectors, which are applicable for the registration of the protons, deuterons, and ⁴He-ions. The calibration diagram show track diameters vs particle energy for different etching times.     

Measurement of radon and thoron concentration by using LR-115 type-II plastic track detectors in the environ of Brahmaputra Valley, Assam, India

Radon/thoron and their progeny concentrations were measured in different types of dwellings at different locations around industrial areas, cities and rural areas of Brahmaputra Valley of Assam by using LR-115 (type-II) plastic detector. Radon levels of different dwellings were analysed with reference to the nature of building materials, ventilation patterns and the types of underlying soil. The results were discussed under the light of exposure limits set by ICRP. The average concentrations of indoor radon and thoron varied from 39.5 to 215.2 Bqm⁻³ and 12.9 to 37.6 Bqm⁻³, respectively. The estimated inhalation dose due to radon, thoron and their daughter products in the study areas varied from 0.53 to 1.00 μSvh⁻¹.     

Auger electron emission from metals induced by low energy ion bombardment: Effect of the band structure and Fermi edge singularity

Calculations of the kinetic energy distributions of electrons ejected from plane metal surfaces by Auger neutralization of slow monoatomic ions are reported. A many body theory is used that includes both the band structure of the target material and the Fermi singular response of metal electrons (to the sudden neutralization of the projectile). Application is made to experiments of electron emission from polycrystalline Al by Ar⁺-ions, at varying incident energies and angles. Adjustment of the broadening parameters of the distribution of shake-up electrons leads to excellent agreement between the theory and the measurements.