Analysis of the evolution of latent tracks in polyvinylidene fluoride

Latent tracks induced by swift heavy ions in polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) are analyzed using the experimental results from publications on small ang le X-ray scattering, X-ray diffraction and piezoelectricity. The thermal sp ike model provides a correct analytical description of the track evolution above a threshold electronic stopping power S-et and S-et = 3.75 keV/nm is deduced from the fits. Estimates are made for S-et and for the rate of trac k evolution versus S-e using the density, specific heat and melting point o f PVDF and good agreement with the experiments is obtained. Strong temperat ure dependence of track evolution is predicted for S-e > 3.75 keV/nm. (C) 1 999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.