Evaluation of the CR-39 response on the basis of track-size distributions

Abstract

Track size distributions obtained in the CR-39 detectors exposed to the natural background, to alpha radiation from radon and its progeny, irradiated with neutrons from the Am-Be source and with monoenergetic neutrons at energies of 1.2, 5.3, and 15.1 MeV were investigated. The two-step etching regime was applied consisting of a low and high frequency electrochemical etching. Track size distributions were measured by the aid of a fully-automated image analysis system. The results show systematic differences between background and neutron-induced distributions giving thus additional information on the integral quantities.