Investigation of the possibility of measuring low neutron fluences with the electrochemical etched LEXAN track detector

The performance of the LEXAN polycarbonate films as 14.7 MeV neutron detectors has been tested. The 30% KOH aqueous solution and the 15 g KOH+40 g C2H5OH + 45 g H20 solution (PEW-solution) were used for electrochemical etching. The dependences have been studied of the detector background noise at etching with different solutions and of the sensitivity to neutrons on the electric field strength and frequency in the ranges of 14 - 40 kV/cm and 2 - 13 kHz, respectively. Minimum noise was attained at 18 kV/cm for the KON-solution and 16 kV/cm for PEW-solution in the 2 - 9 kHz frequency range. The results have proved that, the electrochemical etching being used under optimum conditions, the LEXAN films may be used for measuring 14.7 MeV neutron fluence ranging from 106 to 109 neutr. cm-2