Effect of laser radiation on particle tracks in solid dielectrics

Short laser pulses are observed to affect the tracks of heavy charged particles in solid dielectric detectors. The laser radiation can alter the parameters of a track and even completely destroy it, while the dielectric itself retains its detecting properties. The laser-radiation exposures (in terms of energy) required for observation of the effect are measured. This effect should make it possible in principle to determine the time at which a particle enters the detector to an accuracy corresponding to the duration of the laser pulse