Measurement of heavy ion range in a complex medium using a solid state nuclear track detector

Abstract

A simple method has been described for measuring the range and energy loss of a heavy ion (239U) in a complex medium (Hostaphan, approximately 168 mu m) with the help of CR-39 solid-state nuclear track detectors. The authors present results obtained from measurements of range, energy loss of 16.34 MeV/u 239U ions in Hostaphan, and other related track parameters such as the bulk etch rate, the track etch rate, the sensitivity of the track detector VT/VG, the critical angle sin-1 (VG/VT) etc. The experimental range is compared with the corresponding theoretical value. The critical energy loss rate (dE/dX)c has been found to be 5 MeV mg-1 cm-2 for this detector material.