SENSITIZATION OF POLYMERIC TRACK DETECTORS WITH CARBON-DIOXIDE

The effect of CO2 on the sensitivity of polymeric track detectors was studied, It has been found that the sensitivity of SR-90 is dependent on the amount of CO2 dissolved in the polymer at the time of etching. It has been also found that CR-39 can be sensitized to some extent wit h an aging in CO2. Since the sensitization in CO2 is possible even a l ong time after the irradiation, the mechanism of the latent track form ation by CO2 is quite different from that by O-2. This would be the ke y to achieve the long term stability of polymeric track detectors such as SR-90 and CR-39.