A NOVEL TRACK DENSITY-MEASUREMENT METHOD BY THERMAL-NEUTRON ACTIVATION OF DYECETS

A novel track density evaluation method based on thermal neutron activ ation of some elements of dyed electrochemically etched tracks (DYECET s) of charged particles in detectors like polycarbonate (PC) followed by measurements of gamma activity of the activated detectors is introd uced. In this method, the tracks of charged particles like fast neutro n-induced recoils in PC detectors were electrochemically etched, dyed by 'Quick DYECET' methods as recently introduced by us, activated by t hermal neutrons and counted for gamma activity determination to be cor related with track density. The activities of elements such as bromine -82 (Br-82) and sodium-24 (Na-24) on dyes such as Eosin Yellowish, Eos in Bluish, etc, determined by a hyper-pure germanium detector, were fo und to be in good correlation with DYECET density and thus particle fl uence or dose. The effects of different types of dyes and their elemen ts, dye concentration, neutron fluences and ECE durations on the DYECE T density responses were studied. This new development is a method of scientific interest, potentially possessing some interesting features, as an alternative method for ECE track density determination using a gamma activity measuring system. It also has the drawback of being app licable only in centers having thermal neutron facilities. The results of the above studies are presented and discussed.