New single-cell multi-size detector electrochemical etching system

Abstract

Electrochemical etching (ECE) methods can process lower-LET heavy charged particles such as protons, deuterons, alphas, neutrons-induced recoils, etc. in polymers in particular polycarbonate track detectors (PCTD) to a point observed by the unaided eyes. In this study, a new single-cell multi-size detector ECE system was invented for processing circular PCTDs of different sizes especially with ~7.0, ~10.0, ~16.0, ~19.0 cm effective diameters of 250 μm thick detectors as used. From many physical and chemical parameters controlling the amplification of particle tracks in these detectors, effective etched area and position sensitivity of the detector as well as field strength were investigated on detection responses of alpha particles of fixed fluence ~1.0x104 alphas.cm-2 at 8 distinct energies within ~0.3 to ~4.0 MeV energy range. While no position sensitivity was observed on track detection efficiency and diameter responses of each detector effective etched area, the responses differed slightly from one detector effective area to another due to changes in the dissipated real output power (load) which decreases as detector effective area increases. Accordingly by applying a compensated voltage factor for each effective size, the responses were all matched well demonstrating that the new single-cell multi-size detector ECE system can be effectively used to a number of relatively large-area circular detectors.