Efficient and fast detection of alpha particles using CR-39 detector

Abstract

The CR-39 track detector was used to create alpha particle tracks using molten hydrated barium hydroxide (MBH). In this experiment, seventeen CR-39 plates with a thickness of 250 μm were used. For determining the bulk etch rate, the rate of the change of track dimeter of fission fragments has been used. The detectors were etched at the suitable etching conditions of MBH, and the track diameters were measured using two suitable image analysis software (Infinity Analyzer and ImageJ). A standard micrometer slit was used to calibrate the images in the field of view of the microscope. The results of this investigation demonstrated that MBH provides significant etching characteristics in addition to shorter etching times and higher etching efficiency for the registration and detection of charged particles of various energies. This work has numerous uses, ranging from plastic nuclear track filters and environmental applications to alpha spectroscopy and neutron detection. Results of sample irradiation, track diameter analysis, sensitivity analysis, and etching efficiency analysis are covered in detail.