Observations of short-range, high-LET recoil tracks in CR-39 plastic nuclear track detector by visible light microscopy

Abstract

Abstract Using standard visible light microscopy, we are able to observe particle tracks produced by The tracks we observe in CR-39 PNTD irradiated in these experiments are the result of residual heavy recoil fragments returning to equilibrium via evaporation processes following proton-induced knock out of light particles via preequilibrium processes. Because the heavy recoil particles are very near the end of their ranges (i.e. in the Bragg peak), their LET is extremely high and changes rapidly. Consequently, the tracks they produce in CR-39 PNTD often take the form of long tubes rather than the conical etch pits produced by higher energy particles.