DC CONDUCTIVITY AND DIELECTRIC-CONSTANT OF CELLULOSE NITRATE DETECTOR

The temperature dependence of DC conductivity as well as the temperatu re and frequency dependence of dielectric constant of cellulose nitrat e (CN) track detector was undertaken for better understanding of the t rack response of the detector. In the temperature range -100 degrees t o +100 degrees C, CN is found to be an insulating semiconductor with a ctivation energies 0.04 eV, 0.78 eV and 1.24 eV. The transition of the activation processes takes place at (-10+/-1)degrees C and (60+/-1)de grees C. The high activation energy transition temperature coincides w ith the glass transition temperature of CN. The dielectric constant is found to increase with temperature and decrease with frequency. These results reveal the physical basis of the Ion Explosion Spike model of Fleischer et al. (1975). A possible explanation of the registration t emperature effect is also given on the basis of these results.