Electrochemical etching of neutron-induced tracks in plastic detectors using a 50 Hz electric supply

In spite of the evident advantages of the electrochemical etching method to improve the detection condition of charged particle tracks in plastics, it is still too far from practical applications. Up to now sophisticated electronic systems were used to get a high voltage at a frequency of several kHz. A simple and more practical method is introduced by direct amplification of the normal 50 Hz electric mains. The basic properties of this technique are investigated for different polycarbonates. Generally the authors found the background contribution, the track size and the neutron sensitivity increase with applied voltage and there is an optimum voltage value which compromises between low background and countable tracks. (Auth.)