A simple technique to discriminate various charged particles using SSNTDs

SSNTDs, being tissue equivalent in composition, are now widely used in various neutron therapy related measurements. An interesting property of these detectors, the selectivity of response, makes these detectors very useful for the measurement of distribution of charged particles produced in tissue by neutron interactions. Because of the importance of these charged particle distributions, their study is very vital in neutron therapy applications. Using this property of SSNTDs, a simple technique has been developed and is reported. The technique helps in discriminating among the tracks produced by different types of charged particles. The technique is based on the use of three different types of polymeric track detectors (CR-39), CN-85 and Lexan), each having different registration characteristics, which are etched under specially chosen conditions. The technique has successfully been tested to discriminate tracks produced by protons, alpha particles and C, O and N recoils in neutron irradiated plastics. (author)