TRACK REGISTRATION IN VARIOUS SOLID-STATE NUCLEAR TRACK DETECTORS

Journal Article · Sun Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1964 · Physical Review (U.S.) Superseded in part by Phys. Rev. A, Phys. Rev. B: Solid State, Phys. Rev. C, and Phys. Rev. D

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRev.133.A1443· OSTI ID:4112940

Fleischer, R L; Price, P B; Walker, R M; Hubbard, E L

In a number of materials energetic, heavy nuclear particles leave trails of radiation-damaged material that can be selectively attacked by chemical reagents to produce tracks visible in the optical microscope. The trackregistration characteristics of three such materials--muscovite mica, Lexan polycarbonate, and cellulose nitrate--were investigated using fission fragments and various heavy ions from argon down to helium, each over a wide range of energies. Curves of energy-loss rate dE/dx versus particle energy were calculated for each solid, and the experimental results were displayed on the dE/ dx curves. It was found that for each detector there is a fairly narrow range of dE/dx values over which the trackregistration efficiency varies from unity to zero. This rapid drop in efficiency with dE/dx makes it reasonable to define a critical energy-loss rate (dE/dx)/sub crit/ for each detector, which appears to be independent of energy and atomic number. Crude estimates of particle masses can be made using several detectors with different (dE/dx)/sub crit/. For example, for particles with energies less than approximates 3 Mev/amu, the mass must exceed 3, 12, and 28 amu if tracks register in cellulose nitrate, Lexan polycarbonate, and muscovite, respectively. For particles such as fission fragments, with initial dE/dx >> (dE/dx)/sub crit/, the track lengths are a fair approximation of the particle ranges. Particles incident at a very small angle to a detector surface are registered in mica but not in plastics or glasses. Solid-state track detectors presently offer unique advantages when heavy particles must be studied in the presence of a high background flux of light particles. (auth)

• Research Organization: General Electric Research Lab., Schenectady, N.Y.
• NSA Number: NSA-18-010411
• OSTI ID: 4112940
• Journal Information: Physical Review (U.S.) Superseded in part by Phys. Rev. A, Phys. Rev. B: Solid State, Phys. Rev. C, and Phys. Rev. D, Journal Name: Physical Review (U.S.) Superseded in part by Phys. Rev. A, Phys. Rev. B: Solid State, Phys. Rev. C, and Phys. Rev. D Vol. Vol: 133; ISSN PHRVA
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: English

Related Subjects

ANGULAR DISTRIBUTION
ARGON
ATOMS
BACKGROUND
CARBONATES
CELLULOSE
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHEMICALS
DIAGRAMS
ELECTRIC CHARGES
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
ENERGY
FISSION PRODUCTS
GLASS
HELIUM
INSTRUMENTATION
IONS
LOSSES
MATHEMATICS
MICA
MICROSCOPY
NITRATES
PARTICLE TRACKS
PHOTOGRAPHIC FILM DETECTORS
POLYMERS
RADIATION EFFECTS