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Title: Efficiency estimation for detecting U. cap alpha. particles in solid-state nuclear track detectors

Journal Article · · Health Phys.; (United States)

The detection efficiencies of solid-state nuclear track detectors, made with cellulose nitrate materials (LR-115 II) or alkyl diglycol carbonate (CR-39) were investigated. Detection efficiency for a surface ..cap alpha.. source was experimentally obtained by changing the dimensions between the detector and the source, while ..cap alpha..-particle incident efficiency was calculated. The ratio of the detection efficiency to the incident efficiency was then determined. It was confirmed that the ratio for LR-115 II was dependent on energy, but for CR-39 the ratio showed almost no dependency. Considering the relationship between solid absorber thickness and detection efficiency of the surface ..cap alpha.. source, detection efficiencies of U in various metals were estimated. The efficiency for U contained in Al and Fe was proposed as 16% for LR-115 II and 22% for CR-39. Using these efficiencies, amounts of U in some Al and Fe ingots were determined. These agreed with concentrations obtained by neutron-activation analysis with deviations of less than 15%.

Research Organization:
Hitachi, Ltd., Japan
OSTI ID:
5232159
Journal Information:
Health Phys.; (United States), Vol. 49:3
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English