Systematic measurements of etch induction time for nuclear tracks: Startup of etching and the multiplex effect

Abstract

Systematically planned new experiments were performed on fission fragment and alpha particle tracks in CR-39. In the present experiments, special attention was paid to reduction of spurious variations and fluctuations during exposures, chemical etching and etched track measurements. Measurements of etch induction time ( t ei ) for fission fragment and alpha particle (of energy 4.59–6.11 MeV) tracks were carried out. Potential of t ei for alpha particle spectrometry with CR-39 detector is demonstrated. Published results of atomic force microscopy (AFM) and conductometric cell measurements of various charged particle tracks in CR-39 and similar polymers were used as a support of the present results to propose a multiplex mechanism of startup of chemical etching of charged particle tracks. Results are useful for further development in the field of nuclear tracks and technology applications including nanotechnology.