Response curves for different dielectric track detectors

Experiments have been carried out to obtain the response curves (Vt/Vg vs. Z2sub(eff)/β2) of Muscovite mica, Hostaphan, CR-39, phosphate glass, vitreous quartz glass, and soda-lime glass, dielectric track detectors. These detectors were exposed to different types of light and heavy charged particles. Differential etching of the latent damage trails was carried out, and (a) Vsub(t), the etching velocity along the track, and (b) Vsub(g), the general etching velocity, were measured at different stages of the etching process. Both optical and scanning electron microscopes (SEM) were employed in these studies. Among the detectors investigated here, CR-39 plastic has been found to be the most sensitive detector, while the sensitivity of soda-lime glass is the lowest. (author)