Annealing parameters and rate controlling factors affecting particle tracks in dielectrics

Reaction rate determining parameters, in thermally annealed tracks of charged particles, and their effects on sensitivity of the dielectric (polymer) nuclear track detector CA80-15 have been investigated. Activation energies of the order of 0.45 eV have been obtained for the thermal annealing of 5.48 MeV, Am-241 alpha-particle tracks, corresponding to an apparent decrease in the stopping power from 0.84 MeV cm2/mg to 1.17 MeV cm2/mg over a range of 60 deg C to 100 deg C. The equivalent reduction in particle detection sensitivity at the detector surface, is most significant, dropping from E0 = 5.48 MeV to E0 = 3.650 MeV for He-4. (author)