Influence of high temperature on solid state nuclear track detector parameters

This work concerns the influence of high temperatures on tracks induced in solid state nuclear track detectors of the CR-39/PM-355 type. In order to investigate this effect some samples of the detectors were irradiated with energetic protons and alpha particles and subsequently heated under controlled temperatures for different periods of time. After heating the samples were etched and the track evolution was analyzed using an optical microscope. The bulk etch rate V-B of the PM-355 material was also determined as a function of heating temperature. The track etch rate V-T values were estimated for craters induced by protons and alpha particles from track diameter measurement as a function of heating temperature. (C) 2012 American Institute of Physics. [http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.4750130]