MODIFICATIONS OF RADIATION DETECTION RESPONSE OF PADC TRACK DETECTORSBY PHOTONS

Photon induced modifications in polyalyldiglycol carbonate (PADC) trac k detectors have been studied in the dose range of 10(1)-10(6) Gy. It was found that some of the properties like bulk-etch rate, track-etch rate got enhanced at the dose of 10(6) Gy. Activation energy for bulk- etching has been determined for different gamma doses. In order to cor relate the high etch rate with the chemical modifications, W-Vis, IR a nd ESR studies were carried out. These studies clearly give the indica tion that radiation damage results into radical formation through bond cleavage. TGA study was performed for understanding the thermal resis tance of this detector. The results are presented and discussed. (C) 1 998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.