Effects of He–Ne laser on etching parameters of lexan (polycarbonate) plastic track detector irradiated with fission fragments. (September 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Jain, R.K.; Kumar, Sanjay; Goswami, Brijesh; Chakraborty, R.N.; Singh, M.K.; Kumar, Ashok
• Is Part Of: Radiation measurements. Volume 137(2020:Jun.)
• Publication Date: 2020-09
• Subjects: Lexan plastic track detector -- He–Ne laser -- Etching parameters -- Fission fragments -- Activation energy; Nuclear emulsions -- Periodicals; Particle tracks (Nuclear physics) -- Periodicals; Thermoluminescence -- Periodicals; Cosmic rays -- Periodicals; Radiation -- Measurement -- Periodicals; Radiometry -- Periodicals; Radiation Monitoring -- Periodicals; Émulsions nucléaires -- Périodiques; Particules (Physique nucléaire) -- Traces -- Périodiques; Thermoluminescence -- Périodiques; Rayonnement cosmique -- Périodiques; Radiométrie -- Périodiques; 539.77
• DOI: 10.1016/j.radmeas.2020.106442
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1350-4487

Abstract

Abstract: This research work investigates the effects of He–Ne laser (115 and 287 J/cm 2 fluence) radiation on the etching parameters like bulk etch rate VB, track etch rate VT, Sensitivity S, critical angle θC and efficiency η of Lexan plastic track detector, irradiated with fission fragments from 252 Cf source. The changes in etching parameters due to He–Ne laser in the fluence range of 0, 115, and 287 J/cm 2 at different temperatures (328–348 K) have been discussed in detail. Bulk and track etch rates are observed to vary with He–Ne laser fluence both in case of pre-exposed and post-exposed detectors as compared to un-exposed Lexan plastic detector. Both bulk and track etch rates follow Arrhenius equation. Based on these results, important inferences regarding activation energies associated with bulk and track etch rates have been made. Sensitivity, critical angles and efficiencies of detector material also reveal significant facts about the changes in properties due to He–Ne laser on the Lexan plastic detector. A comparative study is performed on the effects of coherent/in-coherent electromagnetic radiation on nuclear track detectors. The activation energies of bulk and tack etching for commonly used nuclear track detectors is also reported. Highlights: Linear increase in diameters of fission fragments with temperature used to calculate bulk etch rate. Etching time of Lexan plastic detectors for fission fragments is 75 min. Pre-exposure of He–Ne laser decrease bulk etch rate leads to cross-linking process. Post exposure of He–Ne laser increases bulk and track etch rate leading to chain scission process. For detection of high energetic particles, detector need to be pre-exposed while for the detection of low energetic heavy ions, detector need to post exposed to He-Ne laser.