A new method for detection of alpha particles in 1 mm thick polycarbonate detectors using 50 Hz – HV ECE method

Abstract

Recent studies in our laboratory have proved that electrochemical etching (ECE) of polycarbonate track detectors (PCTD) under 50 Hz – high voltage (HV) field conditions has potentials for time-integrated heavy charged particle detection and dosimetry applications. The rationale in the study is the ECE process of alpha particle tracks in 1 mm thick PCTDs by a 50 Hz – HV generator at optimized ECE conditions. Tracks of 3.2 MeV alpha particles from a collimated beam of an 241Am source degraded in air and background tracks were registered. The effects of HV and ECE duration on alpha track registration efficiency and track diameters were studied for 3 sets of 50 Hz – 4, 5 and 6 kV field conditions in a PEW solution (potassium hydroxide, ethanol and water) at 26 °C. The optimized ECE conditions obtained at this stage of development for 1 mm thick PCTDs are 50 Hz – 4 kV in PEW solution at 26 °C for 10 h. Alpha track registration efficiency at 3.2 MeV is about 30% with 37 ± 6 μm mean track diameter. The mean background track density at the above stated optimized conditions is about 571 ± 16 tracks.cm−2 with a mean diameter of 65 ± 5 μm. All tracks are observable by the unaided eyes. The mean background track diameter is near two times larger than that of alpha particle tracks at the optimum conditions applied; they are easily distinguished against each other. This high background track density while at this stage of development seems a drawback for low dose and low fluence particle applications, it has minimal effects on high fluence ion detection applications. The simple 50 Hz – HV generator used proved to be convenient for efficient alpha track amplifications. Studies are underway for improvement of the method in particular for reducing background track density.