Analysis of solid-state track recorders with the Westinghouse Research and Development Center automated track counter

A new automated image analysis system for counting neutron-induced fission fragment tracks in mica solid-state track recorders (SSTRs) has been developed and is in use at the Westinghouse Research and Development Center. This computer-controlled optical microscope use state-of-the-art image enhancement and pattern recognition techniques to identify tracks. Track pile-up corrections have been eliminated for track densities up to 8 X 105 tracks/cm2. The system has been absolutely calibrated to better than 2% uncertainty in the track density range from 1 X 104 tracks/cm2 to 8 X 105 tracks/cm2. The track counting efficiency is independent of local track density variations over this range. Key scanning parameters are stored on a microscope field of view by field of view basis and form a part of the long-term Quality Assurance records for SSTR analysis