Linear energy transfer spectra of secondary particles in CR-39 track etch detectors

Abstract

High energy protons, photons or neutrons are not able to directly form a track in a solid state nuclear track detector (SSNTD). Such detectors can, however, be used for detection and dosimetry in the fields and beams of these radiations, through registration of the secondary charged particles with sufficiently high values of linear energy transfer (LET). Analysis of track parameters of these secondary particles allows for the assessment of their LET spectra, and from these additional dosimetric information can be deduced. The method of how to assess LET spectra by means of a chemically etched CR-39 SSNTD is described. LET spectra of secondary particles created through the photon ( E max ∼ 50 MeV) and high energy ( E p = 100, 160 and 238 MeV) are presented and are compared with the same spectra established in the detectors irradiated with 252Cf neutrons. Reasonable agreement with some independently available data is found. The LET spectra obtained also permit deduction of some of the dosimetric characteristics related to these secondary particles. The values of these dosimetric characteristics are presented and discussed.